What Is Urinary Reflex?

The urinary reflex, also referred to as the micturition reflex, is a consciously regulated contraction of the bladder walls and relaxation of the urethral sphincter that responds to increases in bladder pressure.

Function

• As urine fills the bladder, its pressure increases. Pressure information is communicated from the bladder to the sacral region of the spinal cord through neuron impulses. This is accommodated by the sensation to urinate.

Features

• The brain is given notice of increases in bladder pressure and is able to control the reflex. This allows conscious decisions of when to urinate. The spinal cord then relays information on how to respond back to the bladder.

Significance

• When urination is not desired, the brain will signal for the urethral sphincter to contract and the bladder walls to relax, preventing urination. When urination is desired, the brain will signal for the urinary reflex to begin.

Effects

• Once the urinary reflex is given permission to initiate, smooth muscle along the bladder wall will contract and the urethral sphincter will relax, allowing urination to occur.

Considerations

• Bladder control issues are not uncommon. Most are treatable, but failure to consciously control the urinary reflex could be an indication of prostate cancer in men, according to E-Medicine Health.