Elimination Flashcards
(36 cards)
What is micturition?
The release of urine from the urinary bladder into the urethra so that it can be eliminated via the urethral meatus
How does formed urine leave the kidney?
It travels down the ureters by wave of peristalsis into the bladder
How long is each ureter approximately?
30cm long
Why does the ureters enter the bladder wall at an acute angle?
It prevents reflux of urine from the bladder back into the ureter
How do we know we need to micturate (pass urine)?
Stretch receptors are stimulated until a conscious awareness to urinate is formed
What is the bladder wall made up of?
Layers of smooth muscle called detrusor muscle
What allows the bladder to expand on filling?
The lining of the bladder made up of stretchy epithelium called transitional epithelium
What are the two important functions of the urinary bladder?
Storage of urine
Eliminating urine
Where is the bladder closure mechanism located?
The base of the bladder surrounding the urethra
What does the bladder closure mechanism do?
Allows automatic closure preventing urinary leakage
What is the internal urinary sphincter?
Made up of smooth muscle, under the control of the Autonomic Nervous System (involuntary)
What is the external urinary sphincter?
Made up of striated muscle, under the control of the Somatic Nervous System
Where are the micturition centres located?
Spinal cord
Pons
Cerebral Cortex
Hypothalamus (integrates with micturition centre but is under hormonal control)
In the control of micturition what does the spinal micturition centre (SMC) do?
Acts a relay centre that organises incoming sensory information from the bladder and outgoing motor responses to the brain.
In the control of micturition what does the pontine micturition centre (PMC) do?
Receives signals from SMC to store or void urine in the bladder
In the control of micturition what does the cerebral cortex do?
Relay centre that allows voluntary inhibition of the micturition reflex
State the steps of normal voiding
1) . Bladder fills (stimulating stretch receptors)
2) . Afferent signals to spinal cord via pelvis nerves
3) . Integration of signals in spinal cord
4) . Efferent signals from spinal cord to bladder
5) . Efferent impulses cause bladder contraction and internal and external sphincters to relax
6) . Urinary bladder contracts and empties
Which nervous controls the contraction of the external sphincter during the filling of the bladder?
Somatic nervous system
Which nervous controls the contraction of internal sphincter during the filling of the bladder?
Sympathetic impulses
Which nervous controls the inhibition of detrusor activity during the filling of the bladder?
Sympathetic impulses
During micturition what nervous controls the relaxation of the external sphincter?
Somatic nervous system
During micturition what nervous controls the relaxation of the lnternal sphincter?
Parasympathetic impulses
During micturition what nervous controls the contraction of detrusor muscle?
Parasympathetic impulses
What are the two main functions of the pelvic floor muscles?
It provides support for the contents of the abdominal cavity
It contributes to maintaining continence by supporting closure of the urethra and anus.