An overactive bladder (OAB) is a constellation of lower urinary tract symptoms, including urgency, increased frequency of urination during the day and/or night (nocturia), and, in some cases, urge incontinence. This syndrome can be caused by different conditions, and currently no universal pathogenetic treatment has been developed. In addition, there are virtually no Russian-language publications providing information on the neurophysiology and neuroanatomy of the lower urinary tract. At the same time, the importance of this topic can hardly be overestimated. Often, a patient with a neurogenic dysfunction of the lower urinary tract has different comorbidities, which requires to deeply understand the mechanisms of development of certain symptoms. Considering an absence of clear data about the peripheral bladder innervation, role of the structures of the central nervous system and importance of neurotransmitters, it is rather difficult to provide high-quality specialized care. However, in recent years, a lot of new facts and theories have been described in basic researches. This lecture is dedicated to the current data on the pathogenesis of OAB. The purpose of the lecture is to summarize the results of fundamental and clinical studies on the pathogenesis of OAB.

Keywords: neurophysiology of the lower urinary tract, clinical urology, translational medicine, overactive bladder, pathogenesis