Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

What occurs when the sympathetic stimulation affects the detrusor muscle of the bladder?

1. Relaxation of the bladder neck

2. Contraction of the bladder wall

3. Relaxation of the bladder wall

4. Relation of the external sphincter

The correct answer is: Relaxation of the bladder wall

The sympathetic stimulation primarily influences the detrusor muscle of the bladder by promoting relaxation of the bladder wall. This is a critical aspect of the body's response to stress or emergency situations, as it allows the bladder to fill more effectively without interference from contractions of the detrusor muscle. When the sympathetic nervous system is activated, adrenaline is secreted, which leads to a decrease in activity of the detrusor muscle, enabling the bladder to store urine until a more opportune time for voiding. This is an essential function that contributes to bladder control and urinary continence, especially during times when immediate urination is not possible or practical. Other options might imply different actions of the bladder, but the focus is specifically on how sympathetic stimulation modulates the activity of the detrusor muscle in this context.