Effect of Bladder Distension on the Venous System of Man. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Venomotor responses of an intact isolated superficial venous segment of the forearm of man to bladder distension showed that instillation of 50 cc of fluid into the empty bladder resulted in an increase in venous pressure and venomotor tone. The increase in segmental venous pressure could be inhibited by regional procaine block. The response was absent in a patient with complete transection of the spinal cord. Thus, distension of the urinary bladder initiates a spinal venomotor reflex which produces an increase in peripheral venous tone in the superfacial veins of the forearm of man.