The neural control of micturition
Clare J Fowler, Derek Griffiths, William C de Groat, Clare J Fowler, Derek Griffiths, William C de Groat
Abstract
Micturition, or urination, occurs involuntarily in infants and young children until the age of 3 to 5 years, after which it is regulated voluntarily. The neural circuitry that controls this process is complex and highly distributed: it involves pathways at many levels of the brain, the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system and is mediated by multiple neurotransmitters. Diseases or injuries of the nervous system in adults can cause the re-emergence of involuntary or reflex micturition, leading to urinary incontinence. This is a major health problem, especially in those with neurological impairment. Here we review the neural control of micturition and how disruption of this control leads to abnormal storage and release of urine.
Conflict of interest statement
Competing interests statement: The authors declare competing financial interests: see web version for details.
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Source: PubMed