Bladder: Functions, structure, features and possible diseases

The bladder is part of the excretory system of most vertebrates, including humans. He is in a small pelvis and is extremely important for normal life of the body. What are the structure and functions of the bladder? What are the dangerous violations in his work?

Bladder of animals

For discrimination in animals, absolutely different organs can serve. Invertebrates are more primitive. Functions of the bladder they perform tubules, pores, excretory ducts or glands.

Most vertebrates have kidneys, ureters, and the bladder, an organ in which excretion products accumulate before exiting the body. It is absent in cartilaginous fishes and birds, underdeveloped in crocodiles and some lizards.

The structure and functions of the ureters and bladder are different in different organisms. In humans and mammals, they are the most complex. Their main feature is separation with the anus, which is not, for example, amphibians and reptiles.

The urinary system of a person

One of the products of our life activity is urine. It is 97% water and 3% decomposition products( acids, proteins, salts, glucose, etc.).Filtering blood, urine form the kidneys. Form they are like beans and reach 10-12 centimeters in length.

From the kidneys leaves one appendix length of 30 centimeters and a diameter of up to 7 centimeters. These are muscular tubes, through which urine is sent to the bladder in small portions at an interval of approximately 20 seconds.

When a sufficient amount of fluid accumulates, the bladder contracts and withdraws it through a special urethra channel. It is not the same for different sexes. Thus, in women, the urethra is shorter and wider, in men it is longer( up to 25 cm) and narrow( up to 8 mm).In addition, the men in it go through the ducts with sperm.

To prevent urea from rising again upward, ureters contract in three places: near the connection with the kidneys, at the junction with the bladder and at the site of the ileal vessels.

Where is the bubble?

Functions of the human urinary bladder completely determine its structure and position within the body. The organ is located in the lower part of the small pelvis in the retroperitoneal space behind the pubic department. On either side of him, the muscles that are responsible for raising the anus are bordered.

In childhood, it is located higher in the peritoneum, and does not touch the organs of the reproductive system. Over time, its size and position is somewhat different. In men, it is located next to the vas deferens and rectum, and the bottom rests against the prostate. In women, the bladder is located near the vagina.

Identify such elements of the body: the upper part, the body or the main part, the neck and the bottom. The tip is the narrowed part directed towards the inner wall of the abdomen. Its end passes into the umbilical ligament.

The main part begins from the top. Ureters go deep into the bladder, and its bottom is located down between them and the urethra. Near the bottom of the body of the bladder narrows, forming a neck, which leads to the urethra.

Internal structure

The bladder is a muscular organ. It is hollow inside, and its walls are made up of several layers. Above, the body of the bladder is covered by smooth muscles: from the outside they are longitudinal, in the middle are round, and inside are networked. In the neck area, they are supplemented by striated muscles.

Muscles are responsible for shrinking the walls of the bladder. Under them is a loose connective tissue. It is permeated with a dense network of blood vessels supplying the organ with blood. Inside is the mucous membrane of the transitional epithelium. She highlights a secret that does not allow contact with the tissues of the bladder with microbes.

The ureters enter the body from the sides at an angle. Around the cervix is ​​a circular muscle - sphincter. This is a kind of valve, which, squeezing, blocks the opening of the outflow channel and prevents spontaneous urination.

Functions of the bladder

This organ can easily be compared with a vessel or bag. In our body, it plays the role of a reservoir, which accumulates the kidney-processed liquid, and then takes it out. Together with the water, substances that are unnecessary to it come out of the body - excesses that can not be absorbed, as well as poisons and toxins.

The function of the ureters, bladder and kidneys is clearly adjusted. The kidneys work continuously in the body, and in the absence of a bladder, urge to the toilet would be much more frequent. After all, we remember how often the ureters eject urine.

Thanks to our "storehouse" and, of course, the muscle-sphincter holding urine, a person can visit the restroom much less often and at a convenient time. It is also not worth to abuse it, so as not to worsen the condition of the organs.

Features of the bladder

With moderate drinking and normal operation of the organs per day, the person releases up to 1.5-2 liters of urine. The capacity of the bubble itself in men ranges from 0.3 to 0.75 liters, and in women to 0.5 liters.

In the absence of fluid, the body is relaxed and resembles a blown air ball. As it fills its walls begin to stretch, increasing the volume of the cavity. The walls themselves become thinner, reducing the thickness several times.

A healthy person can visit the toilet 3-8 times a day. But this indicator strongly depends on the amount of liquid drunk, air temperature and other external conditions. The urge to urinate, we begin to experience when the bladder is filled more than 200 mm.

In addition to blood vessels, there are a large number of nerve endings, nodes and neurons in the walls of the organ. They also conduct a signal to the brain, informing that the bladder is already full.

Diseases in men

Due to the peculiarities of the location of the organ, its disorders are more common in women. As a rule, in the male half of the population, the bladder suffers from diseases of other systems. Prostatitis, for example, causes an increase in the prostate that covers the urinary tract.

Nevertheless, the function of the bladder can disrupt cystitis, urolithiasis, cancer, tuberculosis, leukoplakia. Symptoms that clearly indicate the body's malfunction are itching, burning, various unpleasant sensations, changes in color, transparency and pressure of urine, "double urination", etc.

One of the disorders is the syndrome of the hyperactive bladder. During this illness, the urge to urinate occurs even with a small amount of urine in the bladder. Sometimes it leads to incontinence. The cause of the syndrome is pathology in the transmission of nerve impulses.

Diseases in women

Violation of bladder functions in women is largely due to the close arrangement of the organ to the reproductive system. The range of diseases here is significantly expanding. So, microbes and viruses from genitals easily pass into the urethra, and from there and into the bladder itself.

In addition to general pathologies, it is quite common for women to have endometriosis. It develops in the uterus or ovaries and spreads to the urinary system. The main symptoms include pain during the urination, frequent urge to go to the toilet, heaviness in the lower abdomen, which becomes stronger during menstruation.

A common disease is also cystitis. It is an inflammation of the urinary system and is accompanied by pain in the bladder, frequent urination or incontinence, turbid urine, and sometimes a rise in temperature.

Prevention

It is quite difficult to completely protect yourself from all diseases. But a number of simple actions will serve as a good prevention, so as not to expose yourself to troubles once again. In order not to disrupt the function of the bladder, first of all it is not necessary to overcool the legs and organs of the small pelvis.

When practicing sports, you can include exercises that increase blood circulation in the small pelvis and thus activate the work of all its organs.

To maintain your health, you should consult a doctor in time for discomfort and pain. Even with their absence, it is necessary to check at least once a year. Excellent prevention of many diseases is a good sleep, rest, a balanced diet and an adjusted life rhythm.