A precise understanding of the autonomic innervation of the urinary tract is crucial to successful management of urologic disease given the important role that neurophysiology plays in genitourinary pathology. Recent studies using a combination of contemporary histopathology and imaging technologies have furthered our understanding of the spatial nerve distribution in the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. The findings of these recent studies may have important clinical applications in expanding our knowledge of the etiology and treatment of disease processes affecting the urinary tract. In this narrative review, our goal is to provide an overview of the autonomic innervation of the urinary tract. Specifically, we aim to provide a three-dimensional gender-specific description of renal, ureteral and vesical innervation. We also highlight some possible opportunities for clinical and investigational application of this new knowledge.

Actas urologicas espanolas. 2019 Jun 02 [Epub ahead of print]

F A Jefferson, Z Okhunov, D Veneziano, J G Rivas, A D Meneses, G E Cacciamani, M R Socarras, J Wikenhiezer, J Landman

Departamento de Urología, Universidad de California, Irvine, Estados Unidos. Electronic address: ., Departamento de Urología, Universidad de California, Irvine, Estados Unidos., Departamento de Urología, Transplante riñón, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Reggio Calabria, Italia., Departamento de Urología, Hospital la Paz, Madrid, España., Departamento de Urología, São Marcos Hospital, Piauí, Brasil., Departamento de Urología, Universidad del Sur de California, Los Angeles, Estados Unidos., Departamento de Urología, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Ville Turro Division, Milán, Italia., Departamento de Anatomía Neurobiológica, Universidad de California, Irvine, Estados Unidos.

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