Detrusorspenning

Detrusorspenning is a term used in some Dutch medical literature to refer to the mechanical tension generated by the detrusor muscle, the smooth muscle layer of the urinary bladder, during the filling and voiding cycle. In practice, it describes the stress within the detrusor wall resulting from contraction and bladder wall stretch and is closely related to the concept of detrusor pressure used in urodynamics.

The detrusor muscle facilitates bladder emptying when contracting, while relaxation allows filling. Detrusorspenning reflects the balance between contractile force and wall stiffness; abnormally elevated tension can accompany detrusor overactivity or outlet obstruction, whereas reduced tension may occur with detrusor underactivity or impaired contractility. The combination of intravesical pressure, abdominal pressure, and bladder wall mechanics determines the observed detrusor tension.

Measurement of detrusor tension is typically performed in urodynamic studies. Intravesical pressure (Pves) and abdominal pressure (Pabd) are recorded, and detrusor pressure (Pdet) is estimated as Pves minus Pabd. Detrusorspenning is thus described qualitatively in many sources rather than as a standardized quantitative metric, and it is more commonly discussed in Dutch-language urology works or biomechanics discussions.

Clinical relevance: Understanding detrusor tension contributes to assessing bladder function and dysfunction, including overactive bladder, underactive bladder, and bladder outlet obstruction. It informs decisions about management, such as pharmacotherapy, neuromodulation, or surgical interventions.

Etymology: The term appears in Dutch-language sources as a compound involving detrusor and a word related to tension. Its exact sense and usage vary by source, and in English-language literature the more common terms are detrusor pressure or detrusor contractility.