Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 6, 2026
Nerve-sparing Mid-urethral Obstruction NeMO in Female Small Rodents
Published on: April 25, 2017
Bladder and urethral dysfunction in multiparous and mature rabbits correlates with abnormal activity of pubococcygeus
Dora Luz Corona-Quintanilla1, Rhode López-Juárez2, Pablo Pacheco3,4
1Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México.
Aims:
To evaluate the combined effect of age and multiparity on the micturition reflex, including pelvic floor muscle activation.
Methods:
Young and mature nulliparous rabbits were compared to young and mature multiparas (n = 6 per group). Cystometrograms and urethral pressure (UP) were performed while simultaneously recording the electromyogram (EMG) activity of the pubococcygeus and bulbospongiosus muscles to establish their functional correlation to urological function.
Results:
Multiparity and age significantly influence the bladder and UP affecting the voiding efficiency and intercontraction interval. Such interaction also reduced the UP threshold, timing, and duration. Other bladder and urethral variables were predominantly affected only by age. Urodynamic alterations correlated with abnormal patterns or absent EMG activity of the pubococcygeus and bulbospongiosus muscles.
Conclusions:
The present findings strongly suggest that multiparity and age affects specific pelvic floor muscle reflex activation during micturition, and may contribute to alterations in bladder and urethral function. This data broadens our understanding of the critical role of the appropriate activity of the individual pelvic floor muscles in micturition.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Anatomy of the Genitourinary System II: Bladder and Urethra
01:23Urinary Bladder
In males, the bladder is situated in front of the rectum, while in females, it is positioned anterior to the vagina and uterus. The bladder floor contains an inverted triangular area called the trigone, defined by the two ureteric...
01:26Muscles of the Pelvic Floor and Perineum
Perineal Layer
The perineum is a diamond-shaped area below the pelvic diaphragm, divided into an anterior urogenital triangle that contains the external genitals and a posterior anal triangle housing the anus. The urogenital...
01:26The Micturition Reflex
The process begins with bladder filling, where the bladder wall stretches as urine accumulates. This stretching activates the urine storage reflex, mediated by the sacral spinal segments and the pontine storage center. Efferent sympathetic impulses stimulate the detrusor muscle to relax and the internal urethral sphincter to contract, facilitating...
01:20Disorders of the Urinary System
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common urinary system disorders. They are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and can spread to the bladder resulting in cystitis. Pyelonephritis is the result of a UTI that has ascended to the level of the...
01:16Urethra
The anatomy of the urethra differs between males and females. In females, the urethra is short, measuring about 3–4 cm in length, and opens anterior to the vaginal opening. In males, the urethra is longer and passes through the penis, serving dual purposes: expelling urine and ejaculating semen. The male...