URINARY BLADDER

Name : Abrar Bin Sabawi

Identification Number : 12-3-1
Tutor : Doctor Shawky

Definition:
Hollow viscus with strong muscular walls, is characterized by its distensibility.
The urinary bladder is a temporary reservoir for urine and varies in size,
shape, position, and relationships according to its content and the state
neighboring viscera.
Site:
In infants and young children, the urinary bladder is in the abdomen even
when empty. The bladder usually enters the greater pelvis by 6 years of age;
however, it is not located entirely within the lesser pelvis until after puberty.
In adult it is part of pelvic organ.
Shape:
Empty bladder: it has a shape of three sided pyramid.
It has 4 surfaces; superior, two inferolateral and posterior (base).
4 angles; anterior (apex), inferior (neck) and two posterosuperior.
3 attached tubular structures; two ureters and urethra.
1 ligament; median umbilical ligament.
Surfaces and relations:
i.

Superior surface :
The superior surface are covered by peritoneum. As the bladder fills
and ascends, the peritoneum is lifted off the abdominal wall; hence
the reflection becomes higher. The peritoneal relations are
important in rupture of the bladder, which may result in either
intraperitoneal or extraperitoneal extravasation of urine. Behind,
the peritoneum forms the rectovesical (or uterovesical) pouch. The
superior surface is related to the intestine and the body of the
uterus.

ii.

Inferolateral surface :
The inferolateral surfaces are related to the retropubic space, which
contains veins and a pad of fat. The fascia covering the levator ani
and the superior obturator internus lie in contact.

iii.

Posterior surface (base of bladder) :

The base faces backward and downward and is related to the
seminal vesicles, ductus deferentes, and rectum in male or to the
vagina and supravaginal cervix in female.

Angels of the urinary bladder:

i.

Anterior (apex):
The apex of the bladder is connected to the umbilicus by the
median umbilical ligament, which is a remnant of the urachus.

ii.

Inferior (neck):
It is the point of meeting the base and the two inferolateral surfaces
of the bladder. It lies 1 inch behind the lower border of symphysis
pubis. The urethra gets exit from this point. It is surrounded by the
base of the prostate in male and pelvic fascia in females.

iii.

Two posterosuperior:
The two ureters enter the bladder at these angles.

Ligaments of the bladder:

The apex of the bladder is connected to the umbilicus by the median umbilical ligament, which
is a remnant of the urachus. The bladder is connected to the umbilicus also by the right and left
medial umbilical ligaments, which are the obliterated umbilical arteries.The main part of the
bladder is termed its body. The lowest part, or neck, of the bladder is attached to the pelvic
diaphragm and is continuous in the male with the prostate. This region is anchored by localized
thickenings of the superior fascia of the pelvic diaphragm: the medial and lateral puboprostatic
(or pubovesical) ligaments. Another fascial support, the lateral ligament, extends backward on
each side from the base of the bladder to the sacrogenital fold.
Interior of the bladder:
i.
ii.

In empty bladder, the mucosa is thick and has folds (rugae).

In full bladder, it is thin and smooth.

References:
i.
ii.
iii.

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/part_6/chapter_33.html#chpt_33_bl
adder_interior
Review of Anatomy of Endocrine and Urogenital System 1 st Edition Module 15&16
Third Year.
Clinically Oriented Anatomy Fifth Edition.