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Related Concept Videos

The Micturition Reflex01:26

The Micturition Reflex

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Urination, or micturition involves the coordination of the bladder's detrusor muscle and two sphincters to ensure controlled bladder emptying.
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...
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Urethra01:16

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The urethra is a hollowed tubular organ through which urine is expelled from the body. This structure extends from the bladder to the external opening, allowing urine to be released.
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...
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Anatomy of the Genitourinary System II: Bladder and Urethra01:19

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The lower urinary system consists of the urinary bladder and urethra, which are essential in storing and expelling urine from the body. Together with the internal and external sphincters, these structures work together to regulate urination effectively.Anatomy of the BladderThe urinary bladder is a muscular, stretchable organ behind the pubic bone and in front of the rectum. In females, the bladder is positioned anterior to the vagina and inferior to the uterus, while in males, it is located...
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Urodynamic Studies: Uroflowmetry01:19

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Uroflowmetry is a non-invasive urodynamic test designed to measure various aspects of urination, including volume, flow rate, and the time to void. This test is crucial for diagnosing and assessing conditions such as bladder outlet obstruction, bladder dysfunction, incomplete bladder emptying, incontinence, and urinary tract blockages caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and urethral strictures.Pre-Test Instructions:Before a uroflowmetry test, patients are typically advised to drink...
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Urinary Bladder01:23

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The urinary bladder is a hollow, muscular sac that temporarily stores urine before it is expelled from the body. It can hold approximately 600 mL of urine prior to micturition. The bladder is retroperitoneal and located behind the pubic symphysis in the pelvic floor.
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Ureters01:22

Ureters

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The ureters are retroperitoneal tubes located on either side of the vertebral column. They are responsible for transporting urine from each kidney to the urinary bladder. These tubes have thick walls and are approximately 25-30 cm long. Their diameter is around 10 mm at the renal pelvis, gradually narrowing to 1 mm as the ureter obliquely enters the posterior bladder wall through the ureteric orifices. The shape of these orifices is slit-like, which helps to prevent urine backflow toward the...
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[Urethral reflexes: A review].

C Malot1, C Chesnel1, C Hentzen1

  • 1Hôpital Tenon, Sorbonne université, GRC 001, GREEN groupe de recherche clinique en neuro-urologie, AP-HP, 75020 Paris, France.

Progres En Urologie : Journal De L'Association Francaise D'Urologie Et De La Societe Francaise D'Urologie
|November 30, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The urethra plays a crucial role in urinary continence and effective micturition through complex urethral reflexes. These reflexes, involving sensory and neuromuscular functions, are vital for bladder control and sexual functions.

Keywords:
ContinenceMictionMicturitionRéflexes urétrauxUrethraUrethral reflexesUrètre

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Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology

Background:

  • The urethrosphincter complex is essential for urinary continence and effective micturition.
  • The urethra functions not just as a passive channel but also as a sensory afferent and neuro-muscular effector in various reflexes.
  • It participates in genito-sexual and ano-rectal reflexes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and describe the various reflexes mediated by the urethra.
  • To differentiate and present known data on urethral reflexes in humans and animals.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed-Medline.
  • Keywords included "urethral reflexes," "reflex bladder," "urination reflex," and others related to continence and voiding.
  • Seventy-five articles were selected from 864 initially identified, focusing on human and animal studies in English and French.

Main Results:

  • The review identified and described numerous reflexes involving the urethra as a sensory or effector component.
  • Data were differentiated between human and animal studies.
  • The urethra's role in modulating resistance during effort and coordinating micturition was highlighted.

Conclusions:

  • The urethra is a complex structure crucial for urinary continence via multiple reflex mechanisms.
  • Coordination of bladder and urethra during micturition involves central and spinal reflex pathways.
  • Urethral reflexes are implicated in anal continence and sexual functions, with some mechanisms requiring further description.