Editing Functional: Neural Control of Storage and Voiding (section)

== Supraspinal pathways ==

* Midbrain–pontine–spinal cord circuits and reflexes control filling, storing and emptying of the bladder
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Pontine micturition center (PMC)</span>'''
** '''Also known as Barrington nucleus''', Dorsal pontine tegmentum, M region
** '''Located in the pons'''
** '''The essential control center for micturition''' under normal conditions, '''<span style="color:#ff0000">integrating afferent input and ultimately responsible for initiating and coordinating the act of bladder emptying (inhibition of the urethral sphincter coordinated with detrusor contraction)</span>'''
** '''Within the PMC, glutamate is thought to be the primary neurotransmitter involved in stimulating preganglionic parasympathetic neurons responsible for detrusor contraction in the micturition pathway.'''
** PMC neurons express corticotropin-releasing factor, which has an inhibitory influence micturition pathway.
* '''The striated urethral sphincter (rhabdosphincter) is controlled by the interaction between upper motor neurons and the lower motoneurons of the Onuf nucleus'''
** '''PMC neurons do not project to Onuf nucleus. Rather, it has been proposed that the PMC indirectly inhibits Onuf nucleus neurons though excitatory projections to GABA premotor interneurons in the dorsal gray commissure.'''