The Role of the Periaqueductal Gray Matter in Lower Urinary Tract Function. 2019

Aryo Zare, and Ali Jahanshahi, and Mohammad-Sajjad Rahnama'i, and Sandra Schipper, and Gommert A van Koeveringe
Department of Urology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Aryo-Zare@Outlook.com.

The periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), as one of the mostly preserved evolutionary components of the brain, is an axial structure modulating various important functions of the organism, including autonomic, behavioral, pain, and micturition control. It has a critical role in urinary bladder physiology, with respect to storage and voiding of urine. The PAG has a columnar composition and has extensive connections with its cranially and caudally located components of the central nervous system (CNS). The PAG serves as the control tower of the detrusor and sphincter contractions. It serves as a bridge between the evolutionary higher decision-making brain centers and the lower centers responsible for reflexive micturition. Glutamatergic cells are the main operational neurons in the vlPAG, responsible for the reception and relay of the signals emerging from the bladder, to related brain centers. Functional imaging studies made it possible to clarify the activity of the PAG in voiding and filling phases of micturition, and its connections with various brain centers in living humans. The PAG may be affected in a wide spectrum of disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS), migraine, stroke, Wernicke's encephalopathy, and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus, all of which may have voiding dysfunction or incontinence, in certain stages of the disease. This emphasizes the importance of this structure for the basic understanding of voiding and storage disorders and makes it a potential candidate for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009434 Neural Pathways Neural tracts connecting one part of the nervous system with another. Neural Interconnections,Interconnection, Neural,Interconnections, Neural,Neural Interconnection,Neural Pathway,Pathway, Neural,Pathways, Neural
D010487 Periaqueductal Gray Central gray matter surrounding the CEREBRAL AQUEDUCT in the MESENCEPHALON. Physiologically it is probably involved in RAGE reactions, the LORDOSIS REFLEX; FEEDING responses, bladder tonus, and pain. Mesencephalic Central Gray,Midbrain Central Gray,Central Gray Substance of Midbrain,Central Periaqueductal Gray,Griseum Centrale,Griseum Centrale Mesencephali,Periaqueductal Gray Matter,Substantia Grisea Centralis,Substantia Grisea Centralis Mesencephali,Central Gray, Mesencephalic,Central Gray, Midbrain,Gray Matter, Periaqueductal,Gray, Central Periaqueductal,Griseum Centrale Mesencephalus,Periaqueductal Grays, Central
D001743 Urinary Bladder A musculomembranous sac along the URINARY TRACT. URINE flows from the KIDNEYS into the bladder via the ureters (URETER), and is held there until URINATION. Bladder,Bladder Detrusor Muscle,Detrusor Urinae,Bladder Detrusor Muscles,Bladder, Urinary,Detrusor Muscle, Bladder,Detrusor Muscles, Bladder
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014551 Urinary Tract The duct which coveys URINE from the pelvis of the KIDNEY through the URETERS, BLADDER, and URETHRA. Tract, Urinary,Tracts, Urinary,Urinary Tracts
D014553 Urinary Tract Physiological Phenomena Properties, functions, and processes of the URINARY TRACT as a whole or of any of its parts. Urinary Tract Physiological Processes,Urinary Tract Physiology,Physiology, Urinary Tract,Urinary Physiological Concepts,Urinary Physiology,Urinary Physiology Concepts,Urinary Physiology Phenomena,Urinary Physiology Phenomenon,Urinary Tract Physiological Phenomenon,Urinary Tract Physiological Process,Concept, Urinary Physiological,Concept, Urinary Physiology,Concepts, Urinary Physiological,Concepts, Urinary Physiology,Phenomena, Urinary Physiology,Phenomenon, Urinary Physiology,Physiological Concept, Urinary,Physiology Concept, Urinary,Physiology Concepts, Urinary,Physiology, Urinary,Tract Physiology, Urinary,Urinary Physiological Concept,Urinary Physiology Concept

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