human bladder

The bladder is a kind of reservoir where urine accumulates, and then it is excreted from the body through the ureters. Let’s figure out what this organ looks like, how it works, and also find out what diseases of the bladder are most common and how to treat them.

The bladder is one of the main organs of the urinary system. Its main task is the accumulation of urine and excretion from the body.¹. The bladder communicates with the kidneys through the ureters (from the right and left kidneys). Urine is excreted through the urethra.

What is important to know about the human bladder

Structure	Top, body, bottom, neck.
Wall thickness	2-4 mm with a filled organ, up to 15 mm after emptying.
Volume	In men – 350-750 ml, in women – 250-550 ml.
Volume at which the need to urinate is felt	150-200 ml.
Function	Urine reservoir.
Blood supply	Superior and inferior vesical arteries.

Where is the human bladder located?

The bladder is located in the small pelvis behind the pubic bone. In front, the organ is connected with the pubis by connective tissue. Behind are the ureters, rectum, seminal glands (in men), uterus, cervix, vagina (in women). From the sides – vas deferens, small intestine, sigmoid colon, sometimes loops of the colon or caecum. Below – the prostate (in men)¹.

What does the human bladder look like and how does it work?

The main task of the bladder is to regularly remove urine that comes from the kidneys. When the volume reaches 150-200 ml, the brain receives signals about the need to urinate. For the urge to visit the toilet, special baroreceptors are responsible – a kind of sensors that respond to pressure and stretching of the muscle wall of the bladder². If the filling of the organ occurs quickly, then the urge will occur more often.

Two ureters enter the bladder. They are angled to prevent backflow of urine. This is especially important with a full bladder or various infections.

The process of urination is controlled by sphincters – a kind of valves that compress the lumen of the bladder neck and urethra. During urination, these sphincters relax and the walls of the bladder contract. In some diseases, the work of the sphincters is disrupted, which leads to various urinary disorders.

Why can a person’s bladder hurt?

The bladder can hurt for a variety of reasons. In most cases, these are inflammatory processes. Since the bladder communicates with the external environment through the vagina, urethra and anus, there is a risk of infection entering it. Consider the most common causes of pain in the bladder area.

Cystitis

Cystitis is an inflammation that affects the lining of the bladder. According to the course of the disease, acute and chronic cystitis are distinguished, and by origin – primary and secondary.².

The cause of acute cystitis is most often Escherichia coli, less often Klebsiella and other bacteria. The inflammatory process develops suddenly and quickly, within a few hours. In the absence of proper treatment, the disease can become chronic.

In chronic cystitis, periods of exacerbation are replaced by remission. Symptoms of the disease may persist for several weeks, and standard treatment often fails.³.

Primary cystitis is an independent disease. It most often occurs in women aged 18 to 45 years without serious comorbidities.

Secondary cystitis is usually a complication of another disease (tuberculosis, oncology, urolithiasis), which is accompanied by a violation of the outflow of urine.

The most common causes of cystitis³:

infection (most often bacteria, rarely viruses, fungi or parasites);
allergy;
injury;
autoimmune diseases;
oncology;
radiation therapy;
taking certain medications (chemotherapy).

Symptoms:

frequent urge and pain during urination;
general weakness;
possible impurities of blood in the urine;
fever.

Paracystitis

In paracystitis, inflammation affects the fatty tissue around the bladder. Currently, paracystitis is quite rare.

The reasons:

injury of the perivesical tissue during endoscopic examination, catheter placement, during surgery on the pelvic organs;
diseases of the pelvic organs (appendicitis, salpingitis, adnexitis, peritonitis);
the penetration of bacteria through the blood and lymph from the focus of infection in other internal organs.

Symptoms:

frequent painful urination with the release of a small amount of urine;
acute pain in the lower abdomen;
fever, fever;
headache, muscle pain.

Urolithiasis disease

This disease is characterized by the formation of stones in the kidneys, bladder, ureters⁴. Stones in the bladder are more typical for the elderly, and in the kidneys and ureter – for the young.

Symptoms:

pain in the lower back, in the bladder, in the lower abdomen;
a small amount of blood in the urine;
nausea, vomiting;
frequent urination;
fever.

Acute urinary retention

A pathological condition that is characterized by the inability to empty the bladder.

The reasons:

diseases of the prostate gland;
diseases of the bladder and urethra (stone, trauma, tumor);
complications after surgical interventions;
taking certain medications.

Symptoms:

inability to go to the toilet on their own;
frequent and painful urge to urinate;
uncontrolled release of drops of urine;
a feeling of fullness in the abdomen;
pain in the bladder.

Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia is a lesion of the mucous membrane of the bladder, which is manifested by focal keratinization of the stratified squamous epithelium. Leukoplakia is able to degenerate into a malignant tumor.

The reasons:

injuries and operations on the bladder;
chronic infectious and inflammatory processes;
genetic predisposition;
conditions in which the protective properties of the mucous membranes are reduced (avitaminosis, hormonal failure, gastrointestinal diseases, and others).

Symptoms:

difficulty urinating and pain during the outflow of urine;
constant pulling pain in the lower abdomen.

Pain when urinating in women

Pain when urinating is usually associated with inflammation in the bladder or genital tract. What else triggers it?

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There is a problem

Bladder endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrium (the lining of the uterine cavity) is found in other organs, including the bladder. Most often this pathology occurs in women aged 25-45 years.⁶.

The reasons:

surgical intervention on the pelvic organs;
hormonal disorders;
autoimmune diseases;
chronic inflammation in the organs of the genitourinary system.

Symptoms:

irritated bladder – frequent urge to urinate;
pulling pain in the lower abdomen, which disappears after urination;
blood when urinating.

Bladder injury

Bladder injury is a violation of the integrity of the organ wall, which is caused by mechanical, chemical or physical (urinary pressure) impact.⁵.

The reasons:

Accident;
consequences of medical manipulations;
actions of a violent nature;
domestic or industrial injury;
diseases of the urinary organs (stenosis of the urethra, prostate adenoma, tumor).

Symptoms:

pain in the lower abdomen (may radiate to the umbilical, iliac, lumbar region);
bleeding during urination;
frequent false calls to the toilet.

Foreign body in the bladder

The reasons:

self-introduction of a foreign object through the urethra;
the consequences of surgical intervention;
gunshot wounds.

Symptoms:

Clinical manifestations depend on the cause. Most often, symptoms of cystitis appear, since a foreign object causes an inflammatory process:

pain when urinating;
discomfort, pulling or cutting pain in the lower abdomen;
fever, chills, headache (signs of intoxication).

Tumors

Bladder tumors can be either benign or malignant. In any case, neoplasms interfere with the normal outflow of urine.

Symptoms:

inability to empty the bladder on their own;
frequent and painful urges;
uncontrolled release of drops of urine;
lower abdominal pain.

Diagnostics

In order to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the cause of pain in the bladder, the doctor prescribes several studies.

Cystoscopy

This method of research using a special endoscope allows you to visually evaluate the inner surface of the bladder.

X-ray

This research method provides information about the location of the bladder, its shape and size. Foreign bodies and additional formations (stones, tumors, cysts) are clearly visible on the radiograph.

Excretory urography

Due to the fact that the kidneys can secrete a radiopaque substance, this process can be recorded using x-rays in order to study the anatomy and functional capacity of the urinary tract in general and the bladder in particular. After intravenous administration of a special radiopaque substance, a series of images is taken at regular intervals.

Bladder ultrasound

It is an easily accessible, relatively harmless and highly informative research method. It is performed with a full bladder, which allows you to adequately assess the organ. Access can be transabdominal (when the ultrasound probe is outside on the anterior abdominal wall), transrectal (the probe is inserted into the rectum) and transvaginal (the probe is inserted into the vagina).

bladder cancer

How this dangerous disease is diagnosed and what symptoms should alert you, how well it is treated and who is at risk. Let’s talk about all this with the doctors.

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Expert Council

Computed tomography

This study is a “layered” study of the structure of the bladder using x-rays. Unlike conventional radiography, CT allows you to view the body from different angles and in different projections. With the help of CT, you can evaluate the features of the anatomy of the bladder, detect stones, cysts, tumors.

Magnetic resonance imaging

The study allows you to get pictures in different planes, which gives information about the location, structure, size and condition of both the bladder itself and surrounding tissues.

How is the human bladder treated?

There are both conservative and surgical treatments. It is important to entrust the selection of drugs to the doctor, and not self-medicate.

Phytomedication

Herbal medicines have clinically proven efficacy in the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections. Main advantages: lack of resistance (resistance) to them in pathogens, side effects are rare (if there is no allergy).

Phytopreparations include natural uroantiseptics (bearberry leaves, cranberries), Phytolysin, Canephron, Cyston and others. In the early stages of cystitis, they can effectively relieve inflammation without additional antibiotics.

D-mannose

D-mannose is a monosaccharide that has proven effective in the treatment of urinary tract infections, primarily cystitis. The drug prevents the attachment of pathogenic microorganisms (most often E. coli) to the walls of the bladder and prevents inflammation from developing.⁷. This allows you to achieve recovery without the use of antibiotics.

Immunoactive prophylaxis

Uro-Vaxom is an immunostimulating agent that is used both for the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections. The drug increases the local immunity of the mucous membranes of the bladder and the protective reaction of the body. To achieve a stable long-term positive effect, a course of treatment from 10 days to 3 months is required.

Hormonal prophylaxis

During menopause, a woman’s body undergoes significant changes. One of them is a decrease in estrogen levels. At the same time, such symptoms are observed from the urinary system as: frequent urge to urinate, nocturnal diuresis, urinary incontinence, frequent infections. The use of estrogen preparations in the form of tablets, vaginal suppositories and creams can significantly improve the quality of life.

Methenamine hippurate

The drug is a urological antiseptic. The drug has an antimicrobial effect and accelerates recovery from infectious and inflammatory diseases of the bladder.

Bacteriophage therapy

Bacteriophages are beneficial viruses that reproduce only in the cells of pathogenic bacteria and cause their death. They do not affect the normal microflora, unlike antibiotics, they do not cause resistance and do not reduce natural immunity.

Bacteriophages are used as an alternative to antibiotics. To achieve a stable long-term result, before treatment, it is necessary to conduct a culture with the determination of sensitivity to bacteriophages.

Endovesical instillations

This is the introduction of drugs directly into the bladder using a catheter. The most commonly used drugs are hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate. They help restore the lining of the bladder and reduce pain.⁸.

Antibacterial therapy

Both single dose drugs (Monural) and drugs with a long course of treatment are used. Preference is given to antibiotics and nitrofurans – synthetic antibacterial drugs. Treatment should be prescribed only by a specialist, taking into account the history, clinic and culture with the determination of sensitivity to antibiotics.

How to keep your bladder healthy at home

obligatory observance of the rules of personal hygiene;
daily consumption of at least 1,5 liters of water;
the correct mode of urination (to prevent prolonged overflow, a mandatory trip to the toilet after intercourse, etc.);
avoid hypothermia;
compliance with all doctor’s recommendations regarding taking medications (especially antibiotics);
proper balanced nutrition with the obligatory content of vitamins;
taking herbal antiseptics in courses (cranberry compotes);
the amount of incoming protein with food should not exceed the norm (2g / kg);
do not abuse traditional medicine.

What is important to know about the human bladder

Where is the human bladder located?

What does the human bladder look like and how does it work?

Why can a person’s bladder hurt?

Cystitis

Paracystitis

Urolithiasis disease

Acute urinary retention

Leukoplakia

Bladder endometriosis

Bladder injury

Foreign body in the bladder

Tumors

Diagnostics

Cystoscopy

X-ray

Excretory urography

Bladder ultrasound

Computed tomography

Magnetic resonance imaging

How is the human bladder treated?

Phytomedication

D-mannose

Immunoactive prophylaxis

Hormonal prophylaxis

Methenamine hippurate

Bacteriophage therapy

Endovesical instillations

Antibacterial therapy

How to keep your bladder healthy at home

Popular questions and answers

Which doctor treats the human bladder?

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