Question

Curare is a drug that blocks contraction in skeletal muscle but does not affect smooth muscle. Answer the following questions about what happens with micturition in a patient treated with curare.

Is micturition possible in this patient?

If so, describe the circumstances under which it would occur, demonstrating your knowledge of both voluntary and involuntary aspects of the micturition reflex.

Answer 1

Micturition is possible in patient but voluntary micturition is affected. External urinary sphincter is voluntary skeletal muscle . It remains in contracted state to prevent urination. The drug curare blocks contraction in skeletal muscle. Aisa result the external urinary sphincter remains in relaxed state so the voluntary part of micturation is affected.

inm only the external urinary sphincter is under voluntary control ,all otherm are smooth muscle so they are involuntary so overall micturition will not be effected. But the voluntary control over urination will be lost.