The urinary bladder stores urine, while the urethra

Figure 1. The urinary system (Credit: BruceBlaus, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Urinary bladder

The urinary bladder is a hollow muscular sac that holds urine.

Location

The urinary bladder is located in the lower pelvis and is infraperitoneal (under the peritoneum), posterior to the pubic symphysis.

  • The urinary bladder lies on the pubic bones, fascia of the levator ani and superior part of obturator internus.
  • Between the pubic symphysis and bladder there's a potential space known as the retropubic space (or cave of Retzius).
  • In children and infants, the bladder is in the abdomen even when empty.
Figure 2. Male and female urinary bladder (Credit: Tsaitgaist, CC BY-SA 4.0)

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