Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) Flashcards
What anatomical structures make up the lower urinary tract?
Bladder -> bladder neck -> prostate gland -> urethra and urethral sphincter.
Give 4 functions of the lower urinary tract.
- Storage of urine.
- Converts the continuous process of excretion to an intermittent, controlled and volitional process.
- Prevents leakage of stored urine.
- Allows rapid, low pressure voiding.
Is the detrusor muscle relaxed or contracted during storage?
Relaxed.
Is the detrusor muscle relaxed or contracted during voiding?
Contracted.
Is the urethral sphincter relaxed or contracted during storage?
Contracted.
Is the urethral sphincter relaxed or contracted during voiding?
Relaxed.
What is the role of the cortex in micturition?
It has roles in sensation and voluntary initiation of voiding.
What is the role of PMC/PAG in micturition?
Co-ordination and completion of voiding.
What type of epithelium lines the bladder?
Urothelium (transitional epithelium) - pseudo-stratified.
What brain centres are involved in the normal physiology of voiding?
- Cortex
- Sensation of “full bladder”
- Initiation of voiding - Pontine micturition centre
- Completion of voiding
- Co-ordination - Spinal reflexes
- Reflex bladder contraction – Sacral micturition centre
- Guarding reflex – Onuf’s nucleus
- Receptive relaxation – Sympathetic pathway
Describe the physiology of micturition.
The bladder fills and stretch receptors are stimulated. Afferent impulses stimulate parasympathetic action of detrusor muscle; it contracts. The urethral sphincters relax; this is mediated by inhibition of the neurones to them. The PAG is stimulated.
What do the sympathetic, parasympathetic and somatic systems do during micturition?
- Parasympathetic cholinergic innervation
- S3, S4 + S5
- Detrusor contraction during voiding
- Sphincter relaxation (smooth muscle) - Sympathetic noradrenergic innervation
- T10, L1, L2
- Inhibition of detrusor contraction
- Sphincter contraction (smooth muscle) - Somatic innervation
- Sphincter contraction/relaxation (striated muscle)
What are lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men > 50 likely to be due to?
Benign prostatic enlargement.
LUTS: give 3 symptoms of storage problems.
- Frequency.
- Urgency.
- Nocturia (>30% voided volume is at night).
- Incontinence.
LUTS: give 4 symptoms of voiding problems.
- Straining.
- Hesitancy.
- Incomplete emptying.
- Poor flow.
- Intermittency.
- Terminal dribbling.