It may be temporary or permanent and can result from a variety of problems in the urinary tract. Often, more than one type of incontinence is present. A variety of disease and medical problems may contribute to each of the four major types of incontinence. Because incontinence is a symptom rather than a distinct disease, it is often difficult to determine a definite cause. Urine flows out of the kidneys into two long tubes called ureters .
Ureters empty into the bladder , which rests on top of the pelvic floor .
This is a muscular structure similar to a sling running between the pubic bone in front to the base of the spine. The bladder is enclosed in a powerful muscle called the detrusor . The bladder stores the urine, which is then eliminated from the body via another tube called the urethra , which is the lowest part of the urinary tract. The connection between the bladder and the urethra is called the bladder neck. The act of urination itself is a combination of automatic and conscious voluntary muscle actions.