Central effect of bladder filling and voiding

Abstract

In normal subjects and in patients with spasticity and/or urological complaints changes in somatic muscle reflexes associated with filling of the urinary bladder were observed. Two different patterns of reflex changes occurred. One pattern was associated with easy initiation of voiding: it consisted of increasing H and T reflexes and decreasing flexor reflexes with concomitant decreasing sphincter muscle activity. The other pattern was associated with difficulty in initiation of voiding: it consisted of increasing flexor reflexes including sphincter muscle activity and decreasing H and T reflexes. The importance of these reflex patterns in disturbances of micturition is discussed. During voiding, decreasing flexor reflexes with increasing H and T reflexes occur as the general pattern.