Define micturition and describe the micturition reflex.

Video transcript

Hey, everyone. Let's take a look at this question together. The external urinary sphincter is a ring of muscles that surrounds the urethra. Which of the following is its function is it? Answer choice. A sends a signal to the spinal cord. Answer choice B stores the urine temporarily. Answer choice C filters the nutrients absorbed or answer choice D temporarily holds or releases urine. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out which of the following functions is the function of the external urinary sphincter. So we can recall that a sphincter is a ring of muscles that functions to open or close to control the flow of something. And in this case, we're talking about the external urinary sphincter which external means out side and urinary means urine. So when talking about a sphincter, which is a ring of muscles that opens or closes to control the flow of urine outside the body, we know that the function of the external urinary sphincter is answer choice D temporarily holds or releases urine, which is the correct answer. Since the external sphincter is a ring of muscles that surrounds the urethra and can open when a person relaxes to release urine or when the muscle is contracted or closed, a person can temporarily hold their urine inside the body. So answer choice D is correct. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.