The bladder is part of the urinary system.
The bladder is the organ that receives urine from the ureters and expels it outside the body through the urethra. This muscular and membranous organ is part of the urinary system of all mammals and acts as a kind of bag to store the urine produced by the kidneys.
Latin is the language from which, etymologically speaking, the term we are analyzing comes from. In this sense, we can say that it emanates from the word vesica , which in turn is based on a root of Indo-European origin.
The normal physiological capacity of the bladder ranges between 300 and 350 cubic centimeters. From this amount, the desire to urinate arises. When there is urine retention , the capacity can increase to about 3 liters while, in cases of cystitis , it barely reaches 50 cubic centimeters.
Composition of the bladder
The wall of the bladder is composed of three layers: the serous layer (formed by the parietal peritoneum), the muscular layer (with a smooth muscle that contracts during the expulsion of urine) and the mucosal layer (which has an epithelium of urinary transition and a sheet of connective tissue).
The bladder neck, the trigone, the bladder dome or the apex are other of the most important interior parts of the bladder where there are no shortage of veins, nerves, lymphatics and arteries.
Cystoscopy offers the appropriate method for analysis of the bladder. This is an endoscopic examination that involves introducing a tube with a video camera through the urethral meatus, allowing the doctor to observe the urethra and bladder.
The bladder receives urine from the ureters and expels it through the urethra.
Most common diseases
Among the most common diseases that occur in the human body and that affect the aforementioned bladder, we would have to highlight, for example, cystitis . This is an inflammation, both temporary and chronic, that produces fever, intense pain, increased urination and also weakness.
However, more pathologies that affect this part of the body are incontinence ; which would be the loss of absolute bladder control; and bladder cancer. Frequent consumption of tobacco or coffee as well as certain chemicals, various drugs or radiation to the pelvic area are other causes of this last serious disease.
According to studies carried out by health professionals, this severe pathology usually affects men more than women and has increased alarmingly in recent decades.
It should be noted that bladder trauma due to violent blows or cutting wounds can be very serious and lead to death. Other bladder injuries arise from non-violent reasons, such as performing a cesarean section or chronic alcoholism. An injury to the full bladder can cause urine to leak into the abdomen , causing peritonitis .
Swim bladder
In addition to all the above, we cannot ignore the existence of what is known as the swim bladder .
It is a membrane that various species of fish have and that helps them stay between two types of water without having to make great efforts.