Gross Anatomy & Histology of the Lower Urinary Tract Flashcards
What is the urinary bladder?
A three sided pyramid-like muscular organ with apex and base.
Where is the urnary bladder located?
Within the pelvic cavity just below the peritoneum.
Where does the bladder lie when empty?
In the lesser pelvis posterior to the pubic symphysis
Where does the bladder go when it gets full?
It expands and ascends into greater pelvis up to the level of the umbilicus
How does the urinary bladder ascend into greater pelvis when full?
Parietal peritoneum lining anterior abdominal wall is loose which allows it to be pushed upward
What are the surfaces of the bladder?
Superior surface which is covered by the peritoneum.
2 inferolateral surfaces is separated from superior surface by lateral border
What are the borders of the urinary bladder?
One anterior border (Separates both inferolateral surfaces anteriorly)
One posterior border (separating superior surface from the base of the bladder)
Two lateral borders (seperate inferolateral surfaces from the superior surface)
What is the apex of the bladder?
provides attachment to median umbilical ligament (fibrous remnant of the uracus/allantois) and medial umbilical ligament (Remnant of feotal umbilical artery proximal part will remain open in adults becoming a division of internal iliac artery and distal part becomes a ligament after becoming fibrotic)
What is the difference between median and medial umbilical ligaments?
Median ligament is the fibrous remnant of the uracus/allantois. Unpaired
Medial ligament is the remnant of feotal umbilical artery proximal part will remain open in adults becoming a division of internal iliac artery and distal part becomes a ligament after becoming fibrotic. Paired.
What does the median umbilical ligament do?
It attaches to apex of the bladder
Which way does the apex of the bladder point?
Towards the pubic symphysis
What does the base of the urinary bladder look like?
Triangular in shape and directed posteroinferiorly.
What structures connect to the base of the bladder and how?
The superolateral angles are joined by the ureters while the inferior angle gives rise to the neck of the bladder and the urethra.
What is the upper part of the base covered with in males?
Peritoneum
What is the internal urethral orifice?
The opening of the urethra
Where is the neck of the bladder?
It is located at the point where the inferolateral surfaces and the bladder base meet at the neck.
It rests on the upper surface of the prostate
What happens at the bladder neck?
The bladder is pierced by the urethra.
Where does the neck of the bladder rest in females?
Neck is related to endopelvic fascia which fixes the neck of the bladder.
What is the muscular coat of the bladder called?
Detruser muscle
What does the bladder inner surface look like?
It is thrown into folds called ruggae which become flat when bladder is full.
The trigone area is completely flat
What is the trigone?
Smooth shaped triangular area on the base of the bladder.
What supports the neck of the bladder?
The superior surface prostate in males
In males the puboprostatic ligament (forms slings around the prostate)
In females the pubovesical ligament (forms slings around the neck)
What is the bladder bed?
Refers to structures related to inferolateral surface and anterior border
What covers bladder superiorly to fix it in place?
Visceral peritoneum
What fixes the bladder in place?
Visceral peritoneum superiorly
Endopelvic fascia inferolaterally (separates bladder from obturator internus and levator ani)
Pubovesical ligament in females and puboprostatic ligament in male
What other structures are related to the superior surface of the urinary bladder?
The loops of the ileum
What is the space between pubis and bladder called? What is it filled with?
Retropubic space which is filled with fat
What structures are related to the base of the urinary bladder?
Posteriorly:
Rectum
Rectoprostatic fascia
Rectovesical pouch
Ureter and vas deferans posteriorly
Inferiorly
Prostate
Endopelvic fascia
What does the apex of the bladder rest on?
The pubic symphysis
What direction does the uterus point?
anteverted and lying on the superior border of the bladder
What structures lie posterior to the bladder in females?
Anterior fornix of the vagina
Vagina
Uterus
Where does the neck rest in females?
Endopelvic fascia
Pupovesical ligament
Urogenital diaphragm
What structures are related to bladder base in males?
Rectovesical pouch
Ureter, ductus deferens, and seminal vesicles
What structures are related to bladder base in females?
Ureter
Anterior vaginal wall and anterior fornix of vagina
What structures are related to bladder neck in males?
Prostate gland
What structures are related to bladder neck in females?
Endopelvic fascia