Biomaterial Database

Anatomy of the central neural pathways controlling the lower urinary tract. 1998

W C de Groat

Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA. degroat@prophet.pharm.pitt.edu

OBJECTIVE This paper will review the central nervous control of the lower urinary tract. METHODS Neuroanatomical, electrophysiological and pharmacological techniques have provided information about the neural circuitry and the neurotransmitters involved in the neural control of voiding. RESULTS Storage of urine is dependent in part upon spinal reflex mechanisms that activate sympathetic and somatic pathways to the urethral outlet as well as tonic inhibitory systems in the brain that suppress the parasympathetic outflow to the urinary bladder. Voiding is mediated by inhibition of sympathetic and somatic reflex pathways and activation of a spinobulbospinal parasympathetic reflex pathway passing through a micturition center in the rostral pons. Studies in animals indicate that glutamic acid is the major excitatory transmitter in the micturition reflex pathway and that a number of other transmitter mechanisms (noradrenergic, dopaminergic and GABAergic) modulate glutamatergic transmission. Damage to the brain or spinal cord can induce bladder hyperactivity by reducing central inhibitory mechanisms or by promoting a reorganization of spinal reflex pathways. CONCLUSIONS The central nervous regulation of the lower urinary tract is mediated by simple on-off switching circuits in the brain and spinal cord that are under voluntary control. Interruption of central inhibitory mechanisms can unmask primitive voiding reflexes that trigger bladder hyperactivity.

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
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
D001750	Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic	Dysfunction of the URINARY BLADDER due to disease of the central or peripheral nervous system pathways involved in the control of URINATION. This is often associated with SPINAL CORD DISEASES, but may also be caused by BRAIN DISEASES or PERIPHERAL NERVE DISEASES.	Bladder Disorder, Neurogenic,Neurogenic Bladder,Bladder Neurogenesis,Bladder, Neurogenic,Neurogenic Bladder Disorder,Neurogenic Bladder, Atonic,Neurogenic Bladder, Spastic,Neurogenic Bladder, Uninhibited,Neurogenic Dysfunction of the Urinary Bladder,Neurogenic Urinary Bladder Disorder,Neurogenic Urinary Bladder, Atonic,Neurogenic Urinary Bladder, Spastic,Neurogenic Urinary Bladder, Uninhibited,Neuropathic Bladder,Urinary Bladder Disorder, Neurogenic,Urinary Bladder Neurogenesis,Urinary Bladder Neurogenic Dysfunction,Atonic Neurogenic Bladder,Neurogenesis, Bladder,Neurogenesis, Urinary Bladder,Neurogenic Bladder Disorders,Neurogenic Urinary Bladder,Spastic Neurogenic Bladder,Uninhibited Neurogenic Bladder
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013127	Spinal Nerves	The 31 paired peripheral nerves formed by the union of the dorsal and ventral spinal roots from each spinal cord segment. The spinal nerve plexuses and the spinal roots are also included.	Nerve, Spinal,Nerves, Spinal,Spinal Nerve
D014521	Urethra	A tube that transports URINE from the URINARY BLADDER to the outside of the body in both the sexes. It also has a reproductive function in the male by providing a passage for SPERM.	External Urethral Sphincter,External Urinary Sphincter,Internal Urethral Sphincter,Internal Urinary Sphincter,Internal Vesical Sphincter,Urethral Sphincters,External Urethral Sphincters,External Urinary Sphincters,Internal Urethral Sphincters,Internal Urinary Sphincters,Internal Vesical Sphincters,Sphincter, External Urethral,Sphincter, External Urinary,Sphincter, Internal Urethral,Sphincter, Internal Urinary,Sphincter, Internal Vesical,Sphincter, Urethral,Urethral Sphincter,Urethral Sphincter, External,Urethras,Urinary Sphincter, External,Urinary Sphincter, Internal,Vesical Sphincter, Internal
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