Urinary bladder

Changed by Daniel J Bell, 21 May 2018

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

The urinary bladder (more commonly just called the bladder) is a distal part of the urinary tract and is an extra-peritonealextraperitoneal structure located in the true pelvis. Its primary function is as a reservoir for urine

Gross anatomy

The bladder has a triangular shape with a posterior base, an anterior apex and an inferior neck with two inferolateral surfaces. It is lined with a rough, trabeculated transitional cell epithelium except at the trigone.

The trigone is a triangular area of smooth mucosa found on the internal surface of the base. The superolateral angles are formed by the ureteric orifices and the inferior angle is formed by the internal urethral orifice.

The urethra arises from the neck of the bladder and is surrounded by the internal urethral sphincter.

As the bladder fills with urine it becomes ovoid in shape and extends superiorly into the abdominal cavity. Contraction is facilitated by the detrusor muscle.

Arterial supply
Venous drainage
  • male: vesical and prostatic venous plexus via similarly named veins to the internal iliac veins and internal vertebral veins
  • female: vesical and uterovaginal plexuses draining into the internal iliac vein
Lymphatic drainage
  • accompanies blood vessels to the internal iliac lymph and para-aortic nodes
Innervation

Autonomic innervation

  • vesical nerve plexus
  • parasympathetic from pelvic splanchnic and inferior hypogastric nerves
  • sensory fibres follow parasympathetic nerves

For an account of the functional anatomy of micturition, refer to bladder neuroanatomy.

Relations - male
Relations - female 2

Variant anatomy

  • double bladder: receives ipsilateral ureter and has separate urethra
  • septation: septum may divide the bladder internally into two or more compartments
  • agenesis: persistence of the cloaca
  • ureterocoele: dilation of the intravesical part of the ureter

Radiological appearance

Plain radiography

The bladder may be seen as a rounded soft tissue mass 1.

Fluoroscopy

Cystography can be performed where the bladder is filled with contrast either via an antegrade or retrograde technique.

Ultrasound

Bladder wall is best assessed with this modality - it should not exceed 3-5 mm in thickness. Ureteric jets can be assessed using colour Doppler ultrasound 1.

MRI
  • T1W: bladder wall and contents are homogeneous low signal
  • T2W: bladder wall is low signal and urine is high signal, allowing for contrast between the two 1

Related pathology

  • -<p>The <strong>urinary bladder</strong> (more commonly just called the <strong>bladder</strong>) is a distal part of the urinary tract and is an extra-peritoneal structure located in the true <a href="/articles/pelvis-1">pelvis</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The bladder has a triangular shape with a posterior base, an anterior apex and an inferior neck with two inferolateral surfaces. It is lined with a rough, trabeculated transitional cell epithelium except at the trigone.</p><p>The trigone is a triangular area of smooth mucosa found on the internal surface of the base. The superolateral angles are formed by the ureteric orifices and the inferior angle is formed by the internal urethral orifice.</p><p>The urethra arises from the neck of the bladder and is surrounded by the internal urethral sphincter.</p><p>As the bladder fills with urine it becomes ovoid in shape and extends superiorly into the <a href="/articles/abdominal-cavity">abdominal cavity</a>. Contraction is facilitated by the <a title="Detrusor muscle" href="/articles/detrusor-muscle">detrusor muscle</a>.</p><h5>Arterial supply</h5><ul><li>
  • +<p>The <strong>urinary bladder</strong> (more commonly just called the <strong>bladder</strong>) is a distal part of the urinary tract and is an extraperitoneal structure located in the true <a href="/articles/pelvis-1">pelvis</a>. Its primary function is as a reservoir for <a title="Urine" href="/articles/urine">urine</a>. </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The bladder has a triangular shape with a posterior base, an anterior apex and an inferior neck with two inferolateral surfaces. It is lined with a rough, trabeculated transitional cell epithelium except at the trigone.</p><p>The trigone is a triangular area of smooth mucosa found on the internal surface of the base. The superolateral angles are formed by the ureteric orifices and the inferior angle is formed by the internal urethral orifice.</p><p>The urethra arises from the neck of the bladder and is surrounded by the internal urethral sphincter.</p><p>As the bladder fills with urine it becomes ovoid in shape and extends superiorly into the <a href="/articles/abdominal-cavity">abdominal cavity</a>. Contraction is facilitated by the <a href="/articles/detrusor-muscle">detrusor muscle</a>.</p><h5>Arterial supply</h5><ul><li>
  • -<a href="/articles/ureterocoele">ureterocoele</a>: dilation of the intravesical part of the ureter</li>
  • -</ul><h4>Radiological appearance</h4><h5>Plain radiography</h5><p>The bladder may be seen as a rounded soft tissue mass <sup>1</sup>.</p><h5>Fluoroscopy</h5><p><a href="/articles/cystography-1">Cystography</a> can be performed where the bladder is filled with contrast either via an antegrade or retrograde technique.</p><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>Bladder wall is best assessed with this modality - it should not exceed 3-5 mm in thickness. Ureteric jets can be assessed using Doppler ultrasound <sup>1</sup>.</p><h5>MRI</h5><ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/ureterocele-1">ureterocoele</a>: dilation of the intravesical part of the ureter</li>
  • +</ul><h4>Radiological appearance</h4><h5>Plain radiography</h5><p>The bladder may be seen as a rounded soft tissue mass <sup>1</sup>.</p><h5>Fluoroscopy</h5><p><a href="/articles/cystography-1">Cystography</a> can be performed where the bladder is filled with contrast either via an antegrade or retrograde technique.</p><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>Bladder wall is best assessed with this modality - it should not exceed 3-5 mm in thickness. <a title="Ureteric jets" href="/articles/ureteric-jet">Ureteric jets</a> can be assessed using colour Doppler ultrasound <sup>1</sup>.</p><h5>MRI</h5><ul>

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.