Your bladder wall is primarily made of the detrusor smooth muscle and can normally store around 400–600 mL of urine in adults. Urinary retention = inability to voluntarily empty the bladder. Common causes include: 1. Reduced detrusor contraction due to parasympathetic nerve damage or blockade of M3 muscarinic receptors ( e.g. antimuscarinic medications) 2. Neurological disorders affecting higher control centres or the spinal cord (e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury) -> impairing coordination of micturition. 3. Bladder outlet obstruction (e.g benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), urethral stricture, or bladder neck obstruction) -> preventing urine from flowing out. Acute Management 1st line : urinary catheterisation -> decompress bladder —— Follow carmen.strives for more study hacks I learned in med school *✩‧₊˚ #medstudent #medschool #studytips #studyhacks