Urinary Incontinence – Causes, Symptoms, and Types
Felix Weber
2026-03-23
8 min. read
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The inability to retain urine is an ailment that primarily affects women, but can also occur in men. This bothersome and burdensome condition can take various forms and requires appropriate treatment. What is the inability to retain urine? What are its consequences and how should one deal with this issue?
Pelvic floor musculature: anatomical structure, functional roles, and physiological mechanisms within the urogenital system
Urinary incontinence, one of the most prevalent disorders of the urinary and reproductive systems, is directly linked to dysfunction within the muscular structures commonly referred to as the **Kegel muscles** (pelvic floor musculature). This complex comprises eight key muscular units: the **coccygeus muscle**, the **levator ani muscle**, the **ischiocavernosus muscle**, the **bulbospongiosus muscle**, the **urethral sphincter**, the **external anal sphincter**, the **deep transverse perineal muscle**, and the **superficial transverse perineal muscle**. Collectively, they form a **supportive-stabilizing system**, whose primary function is to sustain the pelvic organs (including the bladder, uterus, and rectum) and precisely regulate their physiological operations. A defining characteristic of the Kegel muscles is the predominance of **oxidative (slow-twitch) muscle fibers**, which enable prolonged tension maintenance—critical for urinary continence control. These are supplemented by **glycolytic (fast-twitch) fibers**, capable of generating powerful, short-lived contractions, such as during sudden urinary urgency when immediate interruption of micturition is required.
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