Lack of ability to urinate.

• A. Urinary retention
• B. Urge incontinence
• C. Overflow incontinence
• D. Functional incontinence

Answer: (A)

The key idea is an inability to void corresponds to urinary retention. This term describes when the bladder cannot empty, so urine remains despite the desire or need to urinate, often due to obstruction, nerve issues, or weak detrusor muscle. Urge incontinence involves a sudden, strong urge to urinate with leakage and isn’t about not being able to start urinating. Overflow incontinence is leakage that happens because the bladder is chronically overfilled after failing to empty, not the act of not being able to urinate in the moment. Functional incontinence occurs when nonbladder factors like mobility or cognition prevent timely toileting, rather than a bladder’s failure to void.