CNS and bladder (short review for clinicians)

Abstract

Symptoms of bladder dysfunction are significant public health problem due to their prevalence, morbidity and treatment costs. Most stem from bladder control problem which is governed by the brain, yet we know little about CNS and bladder. Advances in brain imaging technology have brought new insight in how brain works in different bladder diseases and opened new possibilities to study lower urinary tract. Thus, it is important for urologists and clinicians alike to get informed about basic concepts of brain-bladder control. The aim of this article is to review basic neuroanatomy of central continence control based on the results of recent brain imaging studies in patients with symptoms of impaired bladder control.