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Abstract Basic neuroanatomy of the urinary tract has been the subject of extensive research. Yet it continues to remain a subject of controversy, and the exact neural path¬ways to the key segments of the lower urinary tract, especially that of the bladder outlet, are still a theme of disagreement. (l»2) ANATOMICAL REVIEW The detrusor muscle is a meshwork of smooth bundles of varying thickness within which a tendency to an organization to an outer longitudinal, a middle circular and an inner longitudinal layer can be recognized, * ’ . This layering is more evident in the caudal part of the bladder than in the cranial part; ventrally and dorsally it is more distinct than laterally. ’ Although much has been written concerning the structure and function of the bladder neck and proximal urethra, current views on the nature of the bladder neck remain widely di¬vergent. One group of investigators deny the presence of a sphincter of annular fibres at the vesical neck. They considered that the urethral musculature is a direct contin- ( 7 ft 9 *1O 1 ”1 ) uation of the detrusor muscle with* , or without special’4’12’13’14’15’16’17’ loops of muscle fibres. The othwr / C C -1 Q__ 5 Q \ group of investigators * * refute any vesico-urethral continuity and affirm the presence of complete circular muscln bands around the vesioal orifice as the internal urethral |