Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Micturition Reflex01:26

The Micturition Reflex

575
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...
575
Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System01:18

Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System

626
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is an intricate network of nerves that controls functions such as the regulation of heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure regulation. When this system malfunctions, it can lead to various disorders that affect multiple bodily functions. One common feature of many autonomic disorders is the involvement of smooth blood vessels, which play a crucial role in regulating blood flow throughout the body.
Raynaud's disease, also known as Raynaud's...
626
Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

1.5K
The indirect motor or extrapyramidal pathways originate in the brainstem, the lower portion of the brain that connects it to the spinal cord. They consist of several distinct tracts, each with specialized functions. The four main tracts of the indirect motor pathways are the vestibulospinal tract, the reticulospinal tract, the tectospinal tract, and the rubrospinal tract.
The vestibulospinal tract originates in the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem. The vestibular system detects changes in...
1.5K
Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle01:28

Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle

932
The clinical conditions affecting the skeletal muscle tissue are broadly categorized as musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders.
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...
932
Disorders of the Urinary System01:20

Disorders of the Urinary System

287
The urinary system is responsible for eliminating waste and excess fluids from the body. However, disorders of the urinary system can arise due to various reasons like infections, stress, age, congenital abnormalities, and lifestyle.
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...
287
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways01:28

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

945
Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the...
945

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in ageing men with spinal cord injury.

Nature reviews. Urology·2026
Same author

Do disposable diapers reduce urination elimination signals in non-toilet-trained children?

European journal of pediatrics·2025
Same author

Donor site morbidity and impact on oral health following buccal mucosal graft harvesting for urethroplasty: a prospective study.

World journal of urology·2025
Same author

Global Consensus on Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: An Update on Therapeutic Treatments.

Neurourology and urodynamics·2025
Same author

Focus on afferent sensory nervous pathways of the lower urinary tract after SCI. Tribute to Sir Ludwig Guttmann.

Spinal cord·2025
Same author

Systematic Evaluation of Lower Urinary Tract Sensations to Improve Management of LUTS: ICI-RS 2024.

Neurourology and urodynamics·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2025

Detrusor Underactivity Model in Rats by Conus Medullaris Transection
03:26

Detrusor Underactivity Model in Rats by Conus Medullaris Transection

Published on: August 28, 2020

2.0K

Peripheral muscle force balance/imbalance in neurological binary control of bladder function and dysfunction.

Jörgen Quaghebeur1, Andrew Browning2, Nikita Kubin3

  • 1Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.

Annals of Translational Medicine
|May 9, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Bladder control relies on external pelvic muscles and ligaments, not the bladder itself. Imbalances in these forces can lead to stress incontinence or overactive bladder symptoms.

Keywords:
Muscle force balancebinary bladder controlcortical controlimbalanceperipheral control

More Related Videos

A Human-machine-interface Integrating Low-cost Sensors with a Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation System for Post-stroke Balance Rehabilitation
11:06

A Human-machine-interface Integrating Low-cost Sensors with a Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation System for Post-stroke Balance Rehabilitation

Published on: April 12, 2016

10.4K
Bladder Smooth Muscle Strip Contractility as a Method to Evaluate Lower Urinary Tract Pharmacology
10:26

Bladder Smooth Muscle Strip Contractility as a Method to Evaluate Lower Urinary Tract Pharmacology

Published on: August 18, 2014

26.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2025

Detrusor Underactivity Model in Rats by Conus Medullaris Transection
03:26

Detrusor Underactivity Model in Rats by Conus Medullaris Transection

Published on: August 28, 2020

2.0K
A Human-machine-interface Integrating Low-cost Sensors with a Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation System for Post-stroke Balance Rehabilitation
11:06

A Human-machine-interface Integrating Low-cost Sensors with a Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation System for Post-stroke Balance Rehabilitation

Published on: April 12, 2016

10.4K
Bladder Smooth Muscle Strip Contractility as a Method to Evaluate Lower Urinary Tract Pharmacology
10:26

Bladder Smooth Muscle Strip Contractility as a Method to Evaluate Lower Urinary Tract Pharmacology

Published on: August 18, 2014

26.3K

Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Pelvic Floor Physiology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Bladder control is a complex neurological and muscular process, not solely dependent on the bladder organ.
  • The pelvic floor muscles and associated ligaments play a critical role in maintaining urinary continence.
  • Dysfunction in these external mechanisms can manifest as various lower urinary tract symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the biomechanical mechanisms of bladder control.
  • To explain the etiology of stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder based on pelvic floor muscle and ligament function.
  • To describe the cortical and peripheral control of the urinary system.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of the interplay between cortical impulses and peripheral pelvic floor mechanisms.
  • Examination of the roles of pubourethral ligaments (PULs) and uterosacral ligaments (USLs) in urethral closure and vaginal support.
  • Description of how muscle force imbalances lead to specific incontinence types.

Main Results:

  • Bladder control is a binary system (open/closed) regulated by cortical signals acting on pelvic muscles and ligaments.
  • Weakened PULs result in stress urinary incontinence due to posterior urethral opening.
  • Weakened USLs can lead to obstructed micturition and urgency (overactive bladder) due to insufficient posterior support and vaginal stretching.

Conclusions:

  • Urinary continence is achieved through a balanced interplay of cortical control and peripheral pelvic floor musculature.
  • Specific patterns of muscle and ligament weakness directly correlate with distinct lower urinary tract symptoms like stress incontinence and overactive bladder.
  • Understanding these biomechanical principles is key to diagnosing and managing bladder dysfunction.