Bladder, Ureters + Urethra

Question 1

What is meant by the trigone?

Answer 1

Triangular area of the bladder bounded by the ureteric orifices and internal urethral meatus - it does not contract with the detrusor muscle

Question 2

What is the anterior relation of the bladder?

Answer 2

The pubic symphysis

Separated by the retropubic space aka space of Retzius)

Question 3

What is the arterial supply and venous drainage of the bladder?

Answer 3

Internal iliac arteries - superior and inferior vesical arteries

Venous plexus draining in to the internal iliac veins

Question 4

What is the epithelium of the bladder mucosa?

Answer 4

Transitional epithelium

Question 5

What is the course of the ureters?

Answer 5

Pass anteriorly to the medial edge of psoas major
Run adjacent to the tips of the spinous processes of L2-L5 vertebrae
Cross over the sacroiliac joints in to the pelvis at the bifurcation of the common iliac arteries
Pass in front of the internal iliac artery
Pass under the uterine artery

Question 6

What are the three sites of anatomical constriction of the ureters?

Answer 6

Pelvi-ureteric junction
Pelvic brim
Ureteric orifice

Question 7

What the relation of the uterine artery to the ureters?

Answer 7

The ureters pass under the uterine artery

Also known as water under the bridge

Question 8

What is the length of the female urethra?

Answer 8

Around 3cm

Question 9

What is the length of the male urethra?

Answer 9

Around 25cm

Question 10

What are the portions of the male urethra?

Answer 10

Prostatic
Membranous
Spongy penile

Question 11

What is the structure of the internal urethral sphincter?

Answer 11

Located at the junction of the bladder and urethra
Smooth muscle - under autonomic control
In women it is not anatomically distinct

Question 12

What is the structure of the external urethral sphincter?

Answer 12

In women located at the junction of the bladder and urethra
In men, located after the prostate
Skeletal muscle - under voluntary control

Question 13

What is the innervation to the internal urethral sphincter?

Answer 13

Inferior hypogastric plexus (autonomic fibres)

Question 14

What is the innervation to the external urethral sphincter?

Answer 14

Voluntary control
Perineal nerve (branch of the pudendal nerve)

Question 15

What are the three layers of the urethra?

Answer 15

Muscular - continuous with that of the bladder
Erectile
Mucous

Question 16

What is the epithelial lining of the urethra?

Answer 16

Proximal half - transitional epithelium

Distal half - non-keratinised stratified squamous

Question 17

Which surfaces of the bladder are covered by peritoneum?

Answer 17

Posterior surface

Question 18

Which kidney is located lower in the abdomen?

Answer 18

Right kidney

Question 19

What is the relation of the ureters to the internal iliac artery?

Answer 19

Run in front of internal iliac artery

Question 20

What is the arterial supply to the ureters?

Answer 20

Abdominal ureter: renal and ovarian arteries

Pelvic ureter: superior and inferior vesical arteries

Question 21

If rupture of the urethra occurs, where does urine collect?

Answer 21

Mons pubis and anterior abdominal wall

Question 22

What is the sympathetic innervation to the bladder?

Answer 22

T10-L2

Question 23

What is the parasympathetic innervation to the bladder?

Answer 23

S2-S4