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The urinary bladder is a hollow, muscular organ located in the pelvic cavity that stores urine until it leaves the body. The bladder is made up of several layers, including a thick muscle layer on the outside called the detrusor muscle. This layer is composed of smooth muscle cells that relax and elongate to store urine and contract to expel it. The bladder's muscle layer works in coordination with the sphincter muscles to control the filling and emptying of urine. Maintaining bladder health involves regular bowel movements, healthy food choices, and exercises like Kegels to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bladder structure | A hollow, stretchy organ in the lower abdomen/pelvis with 3-4 layers |
| Bladder composition | Smooth muscle cells, elastin, connective tissues, and transitional epithelium |
| Bladder capacity | 1.5-2 cups (300-600 ml) of urine |
| Bladder colour | Pink or dark pink |
| Bladder size | 2 inches when empty, 6 inches when full |
| Bladder function | Temporary storage of urine |
| Bladder control | Controlled by the brain sending signals to the bladder to empty via the urethra |
| Bladder health | Holding urine weakens bladder muscles; regular bowel movements, healthy diet, and Kegel exercises improve bladder health |
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What You'll Learn
The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ
The bladder muscle, also known as the detrusor muscle, is the thick muscle layer on the outside of the bladder. It is composed of smooth muscle tissue outside the lamina propria, a thin layer of loose
The bladder neck, located at the base of the bladder, is a narrow group of muscles that connect to the urethra. The internal sphincter, made of smooth muscle, lies at the bladder neck and remains closed until the brain sends signals to urinate. The external sphincter, composed of striated muscle, surrounds the internal sphincter and provides extra pressure to keep the urethra closed. These sphincter muscles work together to prevent urine leakage and control the release of urine during urination.
The bladder wall muscles remain relaxed while the bladder fills with urine, and they contract to empty the bladder. The bladder's size and shape vary depending on the amount of urine it contains and the pressure exerted by surrounding organs. Maintaining healthy bladder muscles is important, as holding urine for too long can weaken these muscles and make it harder to empty the bladder completely. Pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and promote healthy bladder function.
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The bladder has multiple layers
The bladder is a hollow, stretchy organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. It is composed of multiple layers of smooth muscle cells, interspersed with elastin and connective tissues, and lined with transitional epithelium.
The bladder has three main layers: the inner lining or urothelium, the submucosa or lamina propria, and the thick muscle layer or muscularis propria. The inner lining, or urothelium, is a mucous membrane that prevents urine from leaking into the body. It is composed of transitional epithelium, which is continuous with that found in the ureters. When the bladder is empty, this inner lining has numerous folds called rugae, which allow the bladder to expand as it fills with urine.
The second layer, the submucosa or lamina propria, is a thin layer of loose connective tissue that supports the mucous membrane of the inner lining. It consists of structural protein molecules, blood vessels, and nerves. This layer plays an important role in mediating the pressure generated by the muscle layers and keeping the lumen closed, contributing to urinary continence.
The third layer, the muscularis propria, is the thick muscle layer on the outside of the bladder. It consists of three layers of smooth muscle cells, with the inner and outer layers oriented longitudinally and the middle layer circularly. This orientation determines the bladder's shape and intraluminal pressure. During the storage phase, the muscle cells relax and elongate, while during the voiding phase, they shorten in a synchronized manner to expel urine from the bladder.
In addition to these three main layers, there is also a layer of fatty connective tissue that covers the outside of the bladder and separates it from other organs.
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The detrusor muscle
The urinary bladder is a hollow, stretchy organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine until it leaves the body. The bladder is a muscle, also known as the detrusor muscle, or muscularis propria.
During the storage phase, the detrusor muscle remains relaxed to allow the bladder to store urine. When the bladder is full, the detrusor muscle contracts during urination to release urine. The combination of detrusor contraction and urethral sphincter relaxation leads to urination. The urethral sphincter muscles envelop the urethra to control the flow of urine when they contract.
In older adults, the detrusor muscle may cause issues in voiding the bladder, resulting in uncomfortable urinary retention. Abnormalities in the detrusor muscle can lead to deterioration of the upper urinary tracts if left untreated.
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The bladder neck
Bladder neck obstruction is a condition that can occur when abnormalities block the bladder neck, preventing it from opening fully during urination. This can lead to incomplete bladder emptying, and if left untreated, can cause permanent weakening of the bladder. An enlarged prostate is a common cause of bladder neck obstruction in men, as it can squeeze the urethra and restrict urine flow. In women, bladder neck obstruction can occur when the bladder drops into the vagina due to a weakened vaginal wall.
Bladder neck incision (BNI) is a surgical procedure used to treat bladder neck obstruction. A telescopic instrument called a resectoscope is inserted through the urethra, and a thin laser fiber or cutting instrument is used to make incisions in the bladder neck to relieve the obstruction. While BNI can improve urine flow and alleviate symptoms, it may result in retrograde ejaculation, where semen passes freely into the bladder during ejaculation.
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Bladder conditions and cancer
The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ in the pelvis that holds urine. It is composed of interwoven smooth muscle cells, interspersed with elastin and connective tissues, and lined with transitional epithelium. The bladder muscle is also known as the detrusor muscle or muscularis propria. It is composed of three layers of smooth muscle cells, with the inner and outer layers oriented longitudinally and the middle one circularly.
Bladder conditions may cause problems with urination. Bladder cancer is a rare form of cancer that starts in the lining of the bladder and causes cells to grow uncontrollably. It typically affects people aged 55 and older, with an average diagnosis age of 73. Men who are white are twice as likely to develop bladder cancer as men who are Black. The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine (hematuria), although this may also be caused by other conditions such as infections, benign tumours, kidney stones, or other kidney diseases. Other symptoms of bladder cancer include pain when urinating (dysuria), frequent urination, and changes in urination. It is important to consult a doctor if any of these symptoms are present, as early detection of bladder cancer is possible due to the noticeable signs and symptoms.
Superficial bladder cancer affects only the inside lining of the bladder, and is called transitional cell carcinoma or urothelial carcinoma. As the cancer grows, it can become invasive and spread to deeper layers of the bladder wall and even the fatty connective tissue. Bladder cancer treatment options include surgery to remove the cancer, although it may recur even after successful treatment. Urinary diversion surgery may also be required, which can be a challenging lifestyle change.
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Frequently asked questions
The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ in the pelvis that holds urine until it leaves the body. It is composed of three layers of smooth muscle cells.
The bladder acts as a temporary storage reservoir for urine. The amount of urine it can hold varies, depending on the amount of urine produced by the kidneys and the pressure exerted by surrounding organs.
The bladder fills with urine, which is formed by the kidneys filtering blood to remove excess ions, metabolic waste, and chemicals. The bladder muscle remains relaxed during this storage phase. When the bladder is full, the detrusor muscle contracts to expel urine.
The detrusor muscle is the thick muscle layer on the outside of the bladder, also known as the muscularis propria. It is composed of three layers of smooth muscle cells, with the inner and outer layers oriented longitudinally and the middle layer circularly.
