Final answer:
The pontine storage center inhibits micturition by suppressing the activity of the sacral micturition center, which controls the reflexive process of urination. This mechanism allows individuals to exert voluntary control over the timing of urination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pontine storage center plays a critical role in inhibiting micturition. It achieves this, in part, by suppressing the activity of the sacral micturition center. The sacral micturition center is a group of neurons located in the sacral region of the spinal cord that controls urination. This center operates reflexively but can be overridden by higher brain centers for voluntary control of urination.
During the urine storage phase, sympathetic nervous activity via the hypogastric nerves suppresses the contraction of the detrusor muscle. At the same time, cholinergic neurons maintain contraction of the external urinary sphincter, providing continence. When the bladder reaches a certain volume, stretch receptors in the bladder wall send nerve impulses to the sacral micturition center to trigger the spinal micturition reflex which would normally lead to urination. However, the pontine storage center's inhibition allows an individual to delay urination voluntarily by preventing the sacral micturition center from initiating this reflex.