The Rôle of the Vesical Mucosa in Reflex Micturition

SUMMARY Evidence has been cited that the mucosal‐submucosal lining of the bladder incorporates a rich plexus of nerve endings and end organs. It is shown that a pharmacological exclusion of this complex by the application of large doses of local anaesthetic agents does not suppress or impede the development of involuntary micturition in the lightly anaesthetised animal. It is concluded that normally the mucosal‐submucosal complex has no appreciable role in the genesis of the micturition reflex. The application of a surface irritant to the mucous lining of the bladder is shown to have a powerful disturbing effect, causing premature reflex emptying. It is suggested that this is akin to nociceptive reflexes in some spinal states and may explain the symptoms of frequency and urgency in inflammatory disease of bladder in the human patient.