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Physiology Notes Micturation Reflex 20 Mark

The micturition reflex is the involuntary process by which urine is voided from the urinary bladder. It involves muscles like the detrusor and internal and external sphincters, as well as nerves that stimulate and relax these muscles. When the bladder volume exceeds a threshold, stretch receptors trigger a reflex arc in the spinal cord to initiate urination.

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74 views9 pages

Physiology Notes Micturation Reflex 20 Mark

The micturition reflex is the involuntary process by which urine is voided from the urinary bladder. It involves muscles like the detrusor and internal and external sphincters, as well as nerves that stimulate and relax these muscles. When the bladder volume exceeds a threshold, stretch receptors trigger a reflex arc in the spinal cord to initiate urination.

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20MARKS

Micturition reflex

Micturition reflex is a process by which urine is


voided from the urinary bladder.

A reflex, or reflex action, is an involuntary and


nearly instantaneous movement in response to a
stimulus

It is a reflex process. However, in grown up children


and adults, it can be controlled voluntarily to some
extent.

A. Component of reflex-

a. Muscles involved
1. Detrusor muscle-
 Wall of the urinary bladder is formed by smooth
muscle

2. Internal sphincter-
 This sphincter is situated between neck of the
bladder and upper end of urethra.
 It is made up of smooth muscle fiber.
3. External Urethral sphincter
 External sphincter is located in the urogenital
diaphragm.
 This sphincter is made up of circular skeletal
muscle fibers,

(This Diagram is not necessary to draw).

b. Nerves involved
1. Sympathetic nerve

Origin- Preganglionic fibers arise from first two


lumbar segments (L1 and L2) of spinal cord.

 The fibers pass terminate in hypogastric


ganglion.

Innervated to-The postganglionic form the


hypogastric nerve, which supplies the detrusor
muscle and internal sphincter.

Effect on stimulation –

1. Relaxation of detrusor muscle


2. Constriction of the internal sphincter.
2. Parasympathetic nerves-

Origin- Pelvic nerve fibers arise from second, third


and fourth sacral segments (S1, S2 and S3) of
spinal cord.

Innervation- to urinary bladder and internal


sphincter

Action on stimulation –

1) Contraction of detrusor muscle


2) Relaxation of the internal sphincter

3. Somatic nerve- Pudendal nerve.


Origin- Second, third and fourth sacral segments
of the spinal cord.

Innervated- External sphincter

Action- Pudendal nerve maintains the tonic


contraction of the skeletal muscle fibers of the
external sphincter .

4. Sensory nerve-

Pelvic nerve

 Carry impulses from stretch receptors present


on the wall of the urinary bladder and urethra.
 To the central nervous system.

B. Process of micturition reflex-

1. When the volume of urine in the urinary


bladder exceeds 200–400 mL, pressure within
the bladder increases.
2. Stretch receptors in its wall transmit nerve
impulses into the spinal cord.
3. These impulses propagate to the micturition
center in sacral spinal cord segments S2 and
S3
4. Micturition center in sacral spinal cord
Stimulate- parasympathetic impulses from
the micturition center propagate to the
urinary bladder wall and internal urethral
sphincter.
5. The nerve impulses cause contraction of the
detrusor muscle and relaxation of the
internal urethral sphincter muscle.
6. Once urine enters urethra, the stretch
receptors in the urethra are stimulated and
send afferent impulses to spinal cord via pelvic
nerve fibers
7. The micturition center inhibits somatic motor
neurons causing relaxation of skeletal muscle
in the external urethral sphincter.
 External sphincter relax.

8. On contraction of the urinary bladder wall


and relaxation of the sphincters, urination
takes place.
9. Once a micturition reflex begins, it is self-
regenerative, that is the initial contraction of
bladder further activates the receptors to
cause still further increase in sensory
impulses from the bladder and urethra.
10. These impulses, in turn cause further increase
in reflex contraction of bladder.
11. The cycle continues repeatedly until the
force of contraction of bladder reaches the
maximum and the urine is voided out
completely.
Voluntary control - over micturition reflex.

In early childhood we learn to initiate it and stop it


voluntarily.

1. Inhibitory centers
 Centers in midbrain and cerebral cortex
inhibit the micturition by suppressing
spinal micturition centers.
2. Facilitatory centers
 Centers in pons facilitate micturition via
spinal centers.
 Some centers in cerebral cortex also
facilitate micturition.

[After reflex-

1. Empty bladder causes inactivation of stretch


receptors.

2. No inhibition of pudendal nerve

3. Activation of tonic contraction of external


spincter.

4. Sympathetic nerve stimulate contraction of


internal sphincter and relaxation of
bladder.]additional – can be avoided.
Not to draw in exam.

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