Bladder: Where It Is Located and How It Is Structured

The bladder is a hollow organ in the lesser pelvis that stores urine and expels it outward. About embarrassment I will say once: talking about urination with a doctor is as routine as talking about blood pressure. Now — to the point.

What the bladder is and what functions it performs

It is an unpaired hollow organ of the urinary system and a reservoir for urine that comes from the kidneys. Emptying occurs through the urethra and is regulated by the detrusor — the muscular layer of the wall.

Capacity averages about 0.5 liters; according to other data, in men 350–750 milliliters, in women 250–550 milliliters. The urge appears when 150–200 milliliters accumulates in the bladder. If the bladder fills quickly, urges occur more often: smooth muscles stretch more sharply, and baroreceptors in them are irritated more strongly.

When bladder diseases require examination

If you often feel a sudden strong urge or urine leaks during ordinary activity, go to a doctor immediately, not when it goes away on its own. Shame is a bad adviser: talking about this is normal, and the doctor evaluates such complaints based on medical history and examination.

At the appointment, a medical history is taken and a physical examination is performed. After that, urine tests, X-ray, cystoscopy, ultrasound, and urodynamic testing are possible.

Difficult urination by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance; 103/112 — if there is a threat to life, loss of consciousness, severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding.

Where the bladder is located

In the lesser pelvis, behind the pubis, posterior to the pubic symphysis, to the posterior surface of which the bladder is attached by the pubovesical ligaments. There is no need to look for "which side": it lies in the center of the lower abdomen, neither on the right nor on the left.

When filling, the apex rises above the pubic symphysis and touches the anterior abdominal wall.

Structure of the bladder

Four parts are distinguished in the organ:

• apex — above, passes into the median umbilical ligament;
• body — between the apex and the fundus;
• fundus — faces downward and posteriorly;
• neck — the narrowed lower part, passes into the urethra.

The mucosa is lined with transitional epithelium, urothelium: three to six layers of cells, with large umbrella cells on top. In an unfilled bladder it is in folds, but in the area of the vesical triangle there are no folds. The muscular layer, the detrusor, consists of three layers of smooth muscles: outer longitudinal, middle circular, inner reticular. The wall thickness in a filled bladder is 2–3 mm, after emptying — 12–15 mm.

Posteriorly, two ureters enter the middle part of the bladder at an angle. The oblique course provides a valve effect: during urination pressure rises, and urine is not refluxed into the ureters. On the mucosa of the base, the vesical triangle is visible; its vertices are the ureteral orifices and the internal opening of the urethra.

There also lies a thick circular muscle — the internal sphincter of the bladder. It retains urine and prevents involuntary urination.

Female bladder

Anteriorly everything is the same: the pubis and ligaments. The differences begin posteriorly. Posteriorly and superiorly, the anterior surface of the uterus is adjacent, separated by a sheet of peritoneum — the vesicouterine pouch. In the area of the cervix, the bladder is connected to it by connective tissue, and posteriorly it fuses with the anterior surface of the upper part of the vagina.

The capacity of the female bladder is 250–550 milliliters. A separate condition is cystocele, prolapse of the bladder. Urinary control in women is influenced by childbirth, menopause, and age.

Bladder in men

The location is the same, the neighbors are different: the fundus of the bladder fuses with the anterosuperior part of the prostate gland. Capacity is 350–750 milliliters.

The prostate can block urination: temporarily — during erection, permanently — in some pathologies, for example in prostatic adenoma. In men, aging and prostate problems can cause urinary incontinence.

The material is for reference and does not replace consultation with a doctor.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer