The urinary bladder is a muscular sac in the pelvis, just above and behind the pubic bone. When empty, the bladder is about the size and shape of a pear.
Urine is made in the kidneys and travels down two tubes called ureters to the bladder. The bladder stores urine, allowing urination to be infrequent and controlled. The bladder is lined by layers of muscle tissue that stretch to hold urine. The normal capacity of the bladder is 400-600 mL.
During urination, the bladder muscles squeeze, and two sphincters (valves) open to allow urine to flow out. Urine exits the bladder into the urethra, which carries urine out of the body. Because it passes through the penis, the urethra is longer in men (8 inches) than in women (1.5 inches).
Bladder Conditions
- Cystitis: Inflammation or infection of the bladder causing acute or chronic pain, discomfort, or urinary frequency or hesitancy.
- Urinary stones: Stones (calculi) may form in the kidney and travel down to the bladder. If kidney stones block urine flow to or from the bladder, they can cause severe pain.
- Bladder cancer: A tumor in the bladder is usually discovered after blood is found in the urine. Cigarette smoking and workplace chemical exposures cause most cases of bladder cancer.
- Urinary incontinence: Uncontrolled urination, which may be chronic. Urinary incontinence can result from many causes.
- Overactive bladder: The bladder muscle (detrusor) squeezes uncontrollably, causing some urine to leak out. Detrusor overactivity is a common cause of urinary incontinence.
- Hematuria: Blood in the urine. Hematuria may be harmless, or may be caused by infection or a serious condition like bladder cancer.
- Urinary retention: Urine does not exit the bladder normally due to a blockage or suppressed bladder muscle activity. The bladder may swell to hold more than a quart of urine.
- Cystocele: Weakened pelvic muscles (usually from childbirth) allow the bladder to press on the vagina. Problems with urination can result.
- Bed-wetting (nocturnal enuresis): Bed-wetting is defined as a child age 5 or older who wets the bed at least one or two times a week over at least 3 months.
- Dysuria (painful urination): Pain or discomfort during urination due to infection, irritation, or inflammation of the bladder, urethra, or external genitals.