Brain control of bladder control

The lower urinary tract functions in the storage and voiding phases, requiring coordinated autonomic, sensory, and motor functions to achieve control. Appropriate storage of urine requires normal sensory thresholds, detrusor muscle relaxation, urethral and pelvic floor muscle activation. In a healthy state, the voiding reflex is suppressed until the appropriate time and place. The working model for brain control over the lower urinary tract involves three circuits. Deviation from the normal circuits or activation patterns are associated with conditions such as urinary incontinence or voiding dysfunction. There is evidence for neuroplasticity with interventions for bladder disorders.