The urinary system's function is to filter blood and create urine as a waste by-product. Organs of the urinary system include kidneys, renal pelvis, ureters, bladder and urethra.
FEMALE
MALE
Upon examination specific "landmarks" are used to describe the location of any irregularities in the bladder.
These are:
- trigone: a triangle-shaped region near the junction of the urethra and the bladder
- right and left lateral walls: walls on either side of thetrigone
- posterior wall: back wall
- dome: roof of the bladder
Anatomy The urinary bladder is a muscular balloon-like structure that lies in the pelvis. The ureters connect to the bladder at the ureterovesical junction (vesical means bladder). The ureters enter the back of the bladder surface and tunnel into the substance of the bladder at its base which prevents back flow of urine. The bladder is a thick walled structure. The inner lining of the bladder has three to seven layers and is composed of transitional cells which is thick compared to the wall of the ureters. Urine exits the bladder through the urethra.
Function The bladder typically holds 400-500 ccs (about 1 pint) of urine. The bladder expands and contracts according to how much fluid it contains. The muscles of the bladder wall allow the bladder to forcefully contract when a person urinates. This contraction which empties the bladder is under complex neurologic control that involves participation of centers in both the brain and the spinal cord.
