i. Micturition with Urethral Anesthesia Distension and fluid flow in the urethra has been previously demonstrated to evoke sensory nerve discharge. Nerve firing originating from the urethra is then able to initiate contractions in the filling bladder and increase the amplitude and duration of ongoing bladder contractions. This pudendal-bladder reflex has been shown to be necessary for efficient bladder emptying because disruption to urethral sensory feedback by transection of the sensory branch of the pudendal nerve or intraurethral anesthesia reduces voiding efficiency in the rat. Urethral anesthesia in humans has also been demonstrated to increase post void residual and alter symptoms experienced during the voiding phase.