urinary bladder

Urinary

bladder • Ureteric jet - CT intravenous urogram - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

O'Donnell, C. Ureteric jet - CT intravenous urogram. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 01 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-18679 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Urinary

bladder • Lymphatics of the bladder (Gray's illustration) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Hacking, C. Lymphatics of the bladder (Gray's illustration). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 01 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-85540 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Urinary

bladder • Voiding cystourethrogram - normal - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Shetty, A. Voiding cystourethrogram - normal. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 01 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-27065 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Vagina •

Midsagittal female pelvis (Gray's illustration) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Hacking C, Midsagittal female pelvis (Gray's illustration). Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 07 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-184373 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Radiopaedia • CC-by-nc-sa 3.0 • de

The urinary bladder (more commonly just called the bladder) is a distal part of the urinary tract and is an extraperitoneal 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 (a.k.a. fundus), 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.

As men age, the trigone overlying the mid portion of the central zone of the prostate may start to protrude as the prostate enlarges forming a mild hemispherical elevation proximal to the internal urinary sphincter, which is called the uvula of the bladder .

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

upper part in both males and females: superior vesical artery
lower part:
- males: inferior vesical artery
- females: vaginal artery

All of which are branches from the anterior division of internal iliac artery .

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 veins

Lymphatic drainage

upper part: lymphatic vessels pass to external iliac lymph nodes
lower part: lymphatic vessels pass to internal iliac lymph nodes

Innervation

autonomic innervation from the vesical nerve plexus (composed of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers)
- sympathetic: reach the pelvic and subsequently the vesical plexus via hypogastric nerves (from the inferior mesenteric ganglion which in turn is supplied by the lumbar splanchnic nerves from the sympathetic lumbar outflow)
- parasympathetic: reach the pelvic and subsequently the vesical plexus via pelvic splanchnic nerves (from the parasympathetic sacral outflow)
somatic innervation is via the pudendal nerves
the hypogastric, pelvic splanchnic and pudendal nerves all have afferent components

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

Relations - male

anteriorly: pubic symphysis
posteriorly: rectovesical pouch and rectum
inferiorly: prostate, obturator internus muscle, levator ani muscle
superiorly: peritoneum
laterally: ischioanal fossa

Relations - female

anteriorly: pubic symphysis
posteriorly: vesicouterine pouch, uterus, cervix, vagina
inferiorly: pelvic fascia, perineal membrane
superiorly: uterus, peritoneum
laterally: ischioanal fossa

Variant anatomy

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

Radiographic features

Unsurprisingly, the bladder is usually easier to evaluate when full, and it is sometimes difficult to identify when completely empty.

Plain radiographs

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

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 color Doppler ultrasound .

MRI

T1: bladder wall and contents are homogeneous low signal
T2: bladder wall is low signal and urine is high signal, allowing for contrast between the two