Welcome to our Continence Study Day

1. Welcome to our Continence Study Day

2. Anatomy & Physiology of the Urinary System Gillian Nottidge Continence Nurse Specialist

3. Urine production Normal micturition The nervous system including autonomic dysreflexia The bowel and it’s links to voiding problems The endocrine system The pelvic floor The prostate gland, the urethra and sphincters Voiding dysfunction Reflexes Skills for Health CCO1

4. Definition of Urinary Incontinence The complaint of any involuntary leakage of urine Abrams 2002

5. Physical Requirements for Continence • A bladder • A sphincter mechanism • A pelvic floor • A nervous system

6. Urine production

7. Glomerulus receives blood via afferent arteriole Fluids and waste material forced out and collected in Bowman’s capsule Blood leaves glomerulus via efferent arteriole Urine drained into bladder via ureters – peristalsis 1-2 mls per minute (Guyton et al 2006) Urine production

8. Effect of endocrine system • Vasopressin released by hypothalamus– concentrates urine • Diabetes Mellitus – polyuria may be presenting symptom • Diabetes Insipidus – loss of production of vasopressin • Renin-angiotensin system

9. The normal bladder has two phases: A storage phase An emptying phase Average bladder capacity: Approximately 500mls First desire to void at 300mls What does the Bladder do?

10. The Bladder Is a hollow muscular sac made up of 4 layers • An outer layer (Visceral peritoneum) covers bladder and other abdominal organs • A muscular layer (Detrusor muscle) 3 layers of muscle • A submucous layer (With nerve & blood supply) • An inner layer (Epithelium)

11. Anatomy of the bladder (female) Detrusor Muscle Ureter • Under voluntary control • Divided into 2 segments • The base – Trigone • The body - Detrusor Internal sphincter Trigone External Sphincter (Pelvic floor muscle) Urethra

12. Female Urethra • 3-5cm long • Consists of smooth muscle • Lining of squamous epithelium– easily damaged • External sphincter striated muscle - control Endoscope image of the human urethra Credit to Alexander Tsiaras - Science photo library

13. Anatomy of the urinary tract - man Cross section of male anatomy Including: • Bladder • Prostate • Urethra

14. 18 -22cm long Inside has spiral groove – wider urinary stream Prostatic Bulbourethra Membranous Spongy Sexual function Male urethra

15. Effect of bowel on the bladder

16. Pelvic floor muscles • Supports the pelvic organs • Contraction causes urethral compression – helps maintain continence during abdominal pressure • Collectively called “Levator Ani” • Striated muscle slow and fast • muscle fibres (under Voluntary control)

17. Detrusor relaxed 1. Filling and Storage Stage Bladder neck closed External sphincter contracted 2. Voiding Phase Bladder neck opens External sphincter& pelvic floor relaxed Urine expelled Normal micturition Detrusor Contracts Detrusor relaxes

18. Emptying the bladder • Micturition centre co-ordinates the change from storage to voiding • Sensory impulses initiate the desire to void • Co-ordinated relaxation of the urethral sphincter and detrusor contraction allows the bladder to empty • This action can be suppressed

19. Neuronal control of the bladder

20. Cerebral Function So, what might go wrong and why? Who might be at risk? How might they feel about it?

21. Autonomic Dysreflexia • It develops after spinal cord injury/ lesion at or above T6 • Exaggerated response of nervous system to localised trigger below level of spinal cord injury • This causes an sudden extreme rise in blood pressure • It can occur without warning and is a medical emergency

22. Autonomic Dysreflexia • Normally a harmful stimulus causes the autonomic nervous system to respond resulting in a rise in blood pressure. • If T6 lesion or above present, stimulus below the injury causes BP to rise, but autonomic nervous system does not act to lower it below the lesion. • Therefore BP continues to rise until stimulus is removed • Autonomic nervous system attempts to lower BP above lesion: this causes the symptoms that aid the diagnosis of AD

23. Signs and symptoms • Stuffy nose / nasal obstruction • Severe pounding headache, usually frontal • Raised BP (by 20mm/hg) / bradycardia • Cutis anserina (goose bumps) above and possibly below level of SCI and shivering • Flushing above level of lesion due to vasodilation • Reduced urine output • Blurring vision – spots before eyes • Increased spasms

24. Voiding Dysfunction • Voiding dysfunction and urinary incontinence are conditions in which the bladder is not able to store urine properly (incontinence) or conditions in which the bladder is not able to empty properly (voiding dysfunction). (US Department of Urology 2009)

25. Reflex Voiding Dysfunction • Detrusor areflexia • Detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia • Detrusor failure / hyporeflexia • Detrusor hyperreflexia • Neurogenic bladder • Spinal cord injuries/MS

26. Risk Factors • Age • Gender • Obesity • Smoking • Exercises • Previous surgery • Childbirth

27. Urine production Normal micturition The nervous system including autonomic dysreflexia The bowel and it’s links to voiding problems The endocrine system The pelvic floor The prostate gland, the urethra and sphincters Voiding dysfunction Reflexes Skills for Health CCO1

28. Thank You for listening. Any Questions? Gillian.nottidge@BDCT.nhs.uk 01274 322210