Reflex voiding is the process of urinating without the conscious control of the individual. It is a reflexive and involuntary process that typically occurs in babies of newly born age and below, as they have yet to develop enough to control the bladder and urethra muscles necessary for conscious bladder control.
The muscles responsible for maintaining bladder and urethral control in these infants still have to develop before they can gain conscious control of their muscles and begin to “toilet train”.
Reflex voiding is usually managed by changing the baby’s diapers, using absorbent materials such as ones with cloth linings or disposables, in order to capture any urine passed by the baby and help protect their skin from the resulting dampness and irritation.
Babies may also find it helpful to use a potty seat, as this helps to provide a comfortable and safe perch for infants that are used to being held and carried on their parent’s hip.
Eventually, as the muscles in the baby’s body develop, they will slowly gain control of the bladder and urethra, allowing them to become potty-trained and achieve conscious bladder control. Until that point, reflex voiding will continue to occur and should be managed in order to keep both the baby’s and their caregiver’s skin comfortable and free of irritation.
What triggers the urinary reflex?
The urinary reflex is triggered whenever impulses from the body’s sensory nerves detect a full bladder, leading the bladder to contract and release urine. This reflex is regulated by a part of the body called the micturition reflex center, which is located in the spinal cord.
When the bladder becomes full, there is a nerve response that signals the need to empty the bladder. This causes two coordinated muscle activities. The first is the contraction of the detrusor muscle, which is the major muscle of the wall of the bladder, and the second is relaxation of the external urethral sphincter muscle, which is the muscle responsible for controlling the release of urine.
The urinary reflex can also be caused by certain medications, psychological stress, or intense exercise.
What stimulus triggers the micturition voiding reflex?
The micturition voiding reflex is a physiological response that helps control the urinary bladder and helps to maintain urinary continence. The primary stimulus that triggers the reflex is stretch receptors that are located in the walls of the bladder.
These receptors detect when the bladder is getting full, prompting the voiding reflex. When sufficient levels of urine have collected in the bladder, it initiates the voiding reflex. This reflex involves the contraction of the detrusor muscle in the bladder, which helps to reduce the internal pressure so that the bladder can empty.
This reflex happens in response to increased internal pressure, or if the bladder experiences a sudden change in position. When the detrusor muscle contracts, it helps to open the internal sphincter and relax the external sphincter, allowing urine to pass out of the bladder.
Which reflex cause the release of urine?
The micturition reflex is the neurological process that causes the release of urine through the urinary sphincters. This reflex is triggered by impulses that originate in the brain and travel through the spinal cord and peripheral nerves to the urinary sphincters.
Though the micturition reflex is usually initiated by an increase in the volume of urine in the bladder, it can also be initiated by other stimuli such as voluntary signals sent from the brain, reflex signals from the urethra, rectum, abdominal wall, or pelvic floor, and social cues.
Upon stimulation, the neurons in the lumbosacral area of the spinal cord relay signals down the spinal cord and to the bladder, causing it to contract and release urine. This process is regulated by the autonomic nervous system, allowing for it to occur automatically and without conscious effort.
What stimulates urine flow?
Urine is produced by the kidneys and then travels through the urinary tract before being expelled from the body. Urine flow is stimulated through various mechanisms, the most important of which is the autonomic nervous system.
This system consists of two major components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. The sympathetic nervous system involuntarily increases urine production and excretion, while the parasympathetic branch is responsible for decreasing both.
Another mechanism that helps stimulate urine flow is the hormone antidiuretic hormone (ADH). This hormone is released by the hypothalamus and helps regulate the water content of the body, thereby influencing the amount of urine produced.
Additionally, other hormones like aldosterone and vasopressin can influence the process. Aldosterone is released by the adrenal glands, which help regulate the production of urine, and vasopressin, also known as the antidiuretic hormone, helps regulate the amount of water in the body.
Lastly, other factors such as increased fluid intake and exercise can help stimulate urine flow. Increasing water intake increases the amount of fluid passing through the kidneys and therefore increases production of urine.
Exercise can also contribute to this by making the autonomic nervous system more active, which increases urine flow. All of these factors work together to stimulate urine flow and help your body maintain homeostasis.
What are the two reflexes that control urination?
The two reflexes that control urination are the detrusor reflex and the micturition reflex. The detrusor reflex initiates the filling of the bladder with urine, while the micturition reflex is activated when the bladder is full and initiates the voiding of urine out of the bladder.
The detrusor reflex is initiated by certain stimuli associated with bladder filling, such as stretch and the presence of high levels of carbon dioxide or acidity in the bladder. This reflex causes the detrusor muscle, which is the smooth muscle in the wall of the bladder, to contract and fill the bladder with urine.
The micturition reflex is triggered when stretch receptors in the bladder wall sense that the bladder is full. This reflex transmits signals to the brain, which then coordinates a series of muscle contractions to squeeze the contents of the bladder out.
These reflexes work together to help maintain urinary continence.
What controls the process of urination?
The process of urination is controlled by both the nervous system and the endocrine system. Urination is initiated when the amount of urine in the bladder reaches an appropriate level and initiates the desire to urinate.
When the bladder is full, the walls of the bladder begin to contract due to signals from the nervous system. This sends an additional signal to the brain, which triggers the conscious decision to urinate (known as voluntary control).
The body then relaxes the muscles at the neck of the bladder and contracts the muscles in the pelvic floor, allowing the urine to be expelled. Additionally, the hormone antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is released from the pituitary gland.
This hormone helps retain water in the body, reducing the need to urinate by allowing the kidneys to absorb more water back into the body. Therefore, this process is controlled by both the nervous system and the endocrine system.
What part of the brain controls the urge to urinate?
The specific part of the brain that controls the urge to urinate is largely in the posterior cortex of the brain, an area located at the top and back part of the brain. Specifically, it is the pontine micturition center, part of the micturition reflex arc.
This area helps to signal when your bladder has reached a certain level of fullness and activates the urge to urinate. It also contains information on the bladder’s pressure sensation and how much of it indicates the need to urinate.
The act of urinating itself is managed by the lower part of the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves within the pelvis.
What nerves control peeing?
The nerve system responsible for controlling the process of urination is known as the micturition reflex. It is comprised of the lumbar spinal cord, sacral spinal cord, pudendal nerve, pelvic plexus, and hypogastric nerve.
The micturition reflex begins with signals from the bladder, which is filled with urine. As the bladder becomes distended, activating the mechanoreceptors embedded in the bladder wall, an electrical impulse is carried to the spinal cord.
This causes an inhibitory signal to be sent to the abdominal muscles responsible for holding the bladder closed and an excitatory signal is sent to the detrusor muscle that lines the bladder. When the detrusor muscle is stimulated, it contracts and forces the urine from the bladder.
The lumbar and sacral spinal cord both act as a link between the bladder, a center of the brain, and the body’s skeletal muscles. The pudendal nerve, pelvic plexus, and hypogastric nerve all travel through the pelvic floor, where they connect to various other nerves and organs.
All of these nerves work together to create the micturition reflex. Without this reflex, the body would be unable to control urination. If the reflex is damaged or disrupted, involuntary urination could occur.
What drugs relax the bladder sphincter?
The drugs that are most commonly used to relax the bladder sphincter are alpha-blockers, such as doxazosin, terazosin, alfuzosin, or tamsulosin. Alpha-blockers work by blocking the action of the hormone adrenaline on the smooth muscles around the bladder and by relaxing the muscles of the bladder neck and the sphincter to help improve urine flow.
Other drugs that can be used to relax the bladder sphincter include anticholinergics, such as darifenacin, oxybutynin, solifenacin, and tolterodine. These drugs work by blocking the nerve impulses that cause bladder contraction and sphincter relaxation.
However, it is important to note that alpha-blockers and anticholinergics have certain side effects and should only be used when other methods have failed.
What nerve damage causes urinary incontinence?
Nerve damage can lead to a condition called neurogenic bladder or neurogenic urinary incontinence. Neurogenic bladder is the loss of bladder control due to damage to the nerves that control the bladder and help it to relax and contract.
Damage to these nerves can be caused by a range of conditions, including:
• Stroke
• Multiple sclerosis
• Spinal cord injuries
• Nerve damage due to surgery
• Diabetes
• Parkinson’s disease
• Bladder or prostate cancer
• Fibromyalgia
When these conditions damage the nerves in your bladder, it can cause urinary incontinence, leading to unwanted leakage of urine and an inability to control when you urinate. Treatment for neurogenic bladder can include medications, bladder retraining, pelvic floor exercises, and more invasive treatments such as nerve stimulation therapies, in addition to lifestyle changes such as avoiding alcohol and caffeine before bed.
Can a pinched nerve cause urinary problems?
Yes, a pinched nerve can potentially cause urinary problems. Compression of nerves in the spine can lead to inflammation and muscular tension, disrupting communication between the bladder and the brain.
As a result, the bladder can’t be effectively controlled and incontinence, irritation, and bladder infections can result. A pinched nerve can also lead to numbness, pain and discomfort in the pelvic area, diminishing the sensation of needing to urinate and disrupting healthy urinary functioning.
It’s important to seek medical advice if you are experiencing urinary problems and suspect a pinched nerve is the cause. A doctor can accurately diagnose the condition and recommend appropriate treatment.
Can nerve damage make it hard to pee?
Yes, nerve damage can make it hard to pee. This condition is called urinary retention, which can be caused by any type of damage to the nerves that control the bladder, such as a stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, diabetes, or even certain medications.
When the nerves are damaged, the bladder may not empty all the way, or muscle control of the bladder may be impaired, making it difficult to start or maintain a stream of urine. Other symptoms of urinary retention include pain or burning when urinating, a weak or intermittent urine stream, a feeling of having a full bladder, incontinence, leakage of urine, frequent urination, and even complete inability to urinate.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should speak with your healthcare provider to discuss treatment options. Many cases of urinary retention can be treated with medications, physical therapy, or even bladder or sphincter placement surgeries.
What does voiding mean in urine?
Voiding in urine is the process of releasing urine from the bladder. Voiding is usually done voluntarily, as part of the process of urination or when necessary, as part of urinary incontinence. When an individual voids, the bladder muscles contract, allowing urine to be pushed out of the bladder and down the urethra.
Depending on the individual, when they void they may feel pressure, the need to go, or the sensation of the urine leaving the bladder. For individuals with urinary tract infections or other medical conditions, they may feel pain or burning sensation when they void.
To assess voiding patterns, clinicians often measure the voided volume, and the amount of residual urine left in the bladder after voiding. In a healthy adult, the voided volume and residual volume should be within normal range.