Physiology, Bladder
- PMID: 30860768
- Bookshelf ID: NBK538533
Physiology, Bladder
Excerpt
The bladder forms an integral part of the genitourinary system. Urine, created by the kidneys, is drained into the bladder by the bilateral ureters. The bladder then acts as the storage site for this waste product until higher-order centers within the central nervous system initiate the micturition (i.e., urination) process, which permits the expulsion of urine into the urethra, located on the inferior aspect of the bladder. The physiology involved in bladder function and micturition is exceedingly complex, integrating the autonomic nervous system, the central nervous system, the somatic nervous system, and neurohormonal modulation. This complex physiologic interplay is, in turn, a site of action for several pharmaceutical agents that treat common bladder pathologies.
Copyright © 2025, StatPearls Publishing LLC.
Conflict of interest statement
Sections
References
-
- Andersson KE, Arner A. Urinary bladder contraction and relaxation: physiology and pathophysiology. Physiol Rev. 2004 Jul;84(3):935-86. - PubMed
-
- Gillespie JI, Markerink-van Ittersum M, de Vente J. Sensory collaterals, intramural ganglia and motor nerves in the guinea-pig bladder: evidence for intramural neural circuits. Cell Tissue Res. 2006 Jul;325(1):33-45. - PubMed
-
- Karicheti V, Christ GJ. Physiological roles for K+ channels and gap junctions in urogenital smooth muscle: implications for improved understanding of urogenital function, disease and therapy. Curr Drug Targets. 2001 Mar;2(1):1-20. - PubMed
-
- Fry CH, Meng E, Young JS. The physiological function of lower urinary tract smooth muscle. Auton Neurosci. 2010 Apr 19;154(1-2):3-13. - PubMed
Publication types
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources