Micturition – Bladder Emptying

Process of emptying of the bladder is known as:

Correct Answer: Micturition

Micturition, also known as urination, is the process of emptying the urinary bladder. It is a parasympathetic activity — the sympathetic nerve has no direct effect on micturition.

Key Points

• Micturition = Urination — both terms refer to the same process.
• It is controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system (contraction of detrusor muscle of the bladder wall).
• The internal urethral sphincter is under sympathetic control (keeps it closed during filling), while the external urethral sphincter is under voluntary (somatic) control.
• Parturition = process of giving birth (not to be confused with micturition).
• Excretion = broader term for elimination of metabolic waste from the body.

Additional Note

Urinary bladder is absent in fowl (birds). In birds, urine is stored in the cloaca before excretion.