Abstract #1123

Dechent P, Baudewig J, Rebmann S, Holz P, Ringert R

The pontine micturition center and the periaqueductal grey were known to be involved in voiding. Nevertheless no fMRI studies demonstrating activations in this brainstem structures during voiding were published yet. We present a study focused on the involvement of these brain regions in pelvic floor muscle control. fMRI was performed at 3T in healthy women, who were instructed to imitate micturition. The most striking results were well-localized activations in the region of periaqueductal grey and the pontine micturition centre. To our knowledge, this is the first study using fMRI to demonstrate micturition-related activity in these brainstem structures.