pontine micturition center; Barrington's nucleus

Function

• role in regulation of micturition
• when activated, relaxes the urethral sphincter to allow micturition (urination)
• coordinates with centers in the medial frontal cortex, insular cortex, hypothalamus & periaqueductal gray
• stimulates parasympathetic outflow to the bladder
• inhibits of sympathetic outflow to the bladder
• inhibits somatic activation of external urethral sphincter

Structure

• collection of cell bodies in the rostral pons

Afferents

• ascending input from the lumbosacral spinal cord

Efferents

• descending excitatory projections to
  • spinal parasympathetic preganglionic neurons innervating the bladder
  • inhibitory interneurons regulating Onuf's nucleus

Pathology

• Parkinson's disease may result in loss of inhibitory inputs to the pontine micturition center

More general terms

• pontine nucleus/gray matter

Additional terms

• micturition (urination)