A urethral sphincter muscle which constricts the internal urethral orifice. It is the junction of the urethra with the urinary bladder. The muscle is made of smooth muscle, so therefore it is under involuntary control. It is kept tonically contracted by the sympathetic nervous system and during micturition, is relaxed via the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the primary muscle for preventing the release of urine[WP]. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_sphincter_muscle_of_urethra ]
Synonyms: internal sphincter of urethra internal sphincter muscle of urethra musculus sphincter urethrae internus preprostatic sphincter supracollicular sphincter musculus sphincter supracollicularis sphincter urethrae internus internal urethral sphincter muscle
Term information
- Wikipedia:Internal_sphincter_muscle_of_urethra
- FMA:45769
- SCTID:277856008
Term relations
- urethral sphincter
- innervated_by some hypogastric nerve
- part of some urethra
- innervated_by some superior hypogastric nerve plexus