Modeling Physiology of the Urinary Tract

We review mathematical and physical models of physiology of the organs of the urinary tract and their functions of producing, excreting, and voiding urine. Models for urine concentration in the kidney, urine flow in the ureters, bladder filling and emptying, urethral function during micturition, pelvic floor muscles, and neural control are reviewed in the context of their application to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. The focus of this review is on modeling of physiology and function at the tissue and organ level, as almost all research to date has been done in those areas. Although physiological models of the lower urinary tract are in their infancy, they have the long-term potential to improve our understanding of physiological mechanisms, as well as to provide environments for simulation or testing in silico of new therapies and techniques.