The Integrated Physiology of the Lower Urinary Tract

The lower urinary tract (LUT) consists of the bladder and outflow tract. For most of the time the LUT serves a storage function, whereby the bladder fills with urine from the ureters whilst maintaining a low intraluminal pressure and the outflow tract offers a high fluid resistance to maintain continence. At regular intervals voiding occurs when the bladder wall contracts, to raise intraluminal pressure, and the outflow tract relaxes. Furthermore, the LUT is supported by a pelvic floor musculature. This chapter provides an overview of the physiological functions of the lower urinary tract, some of the functional disorders that can occur and a survey of the tissues that help to maintain these essential functions.