Bladder

Definition

The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that serves as a reservoir for urine, storing it temporarily before it is eliminated from the body. It is an essential part of the urinary system and plays a crucial role in the physical characteristics of urine.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The bladder is located in the pelvic cavity, just behind the pubic bone.
2. The average adult bladder can hold approximately 400-600 milliliters of urine.
3. The bladder is lined with a specialized epithelial tissue called the urothelium, which is resistant to the corrosive nature of urine.
4. The detrusor muscle in the bladder wall contracts to increase pressure within the bladder, allowing for the expulsion of urine.
5. The trigone area of the bladder is an important anatomical landmark, as it helps prevent the backflow of urine from the bladder into the ureters.

Review Questions

• Describe the role of the bladder in the structural organization of the human body.
  • The bladder is a key component of the urinary system, which is part of the larger integumentary system. It serves as a reservoir for urine, temporarily storing it before its elimination from the body. The bladder's location in the pelvic cavity, its muscular walls, and its connection to the urethra allow it to perform its essential function in the body's overall structural organization.
• Explain how the physical characteristics of the bladder contribute to the physical characteristics of urine.
  • The bladder's ability to store urine and the presence of the specialized urothelium lining help maintain the physical properties of urine. The bladder's distensibility allows it to accommodate varying volumes of urine, while the urothelium's resistance to the corrosive nature of urine helps preserve the urine's composition. Additionally, the detrusor muscle's contraction during urination helps expel urine from the body, ensuring the physical characteristics of urine are maintained during the elimination process.
• Analyze the importance of the trigone area of the bladder in relation to the physical characteristics of urine.
  • The trigone area of the bladder, where the ureters enter and the urethra exits, plays a crucial role in maintaining the physical characteristics of urine. This triangular-shaped region helps prevent the backflow of urine from the bladder into the ureters, ensuring that urine is effectively eliminated from the body. By maintaining the unidirectional flow of urine, the trigone area contributes to the overall integrity of the urinary system and the physical properties of the urine, such as volume, pH, and composition.

Related terms

Urethra: The tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the body, allowing for the elimination of urine.

Detrusor Muscle:

The smooth muscle layer in the bladder wall that contracts to expel urine during urination.

Trigone: The triangular-shaped area at the base of the bladder where the ureters (tubes from the kidneys) enter and the urethra exits.