Bladder doesn't work. How does the bladder work?

Bladder is part excretory system most vertebrates, including humans. It is located in the pelvis and is extremely important for normal life body. What are the structure and functions of the bladder? What are the dangers of violations in its work?

Animal bladder

Can be used absolutely for isolation in animals different organs. In invertebrates they are more primitive. The functions of the bladder are performed by tubules, pores, excretory tubes or glands.

Most vertebrates have kidneys, ureters, and a bladder for excretion, an organ in which waste products accumulate before leaving the body. It is missing from cartilaginous fish and birds, underdeveloped in crocodiles and some lizards.

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

Human urinary system

One of the products of our vital activity is urine. It consists of 97% water and 3% breakdown products (acids, proteins, salts, glucose, etc.). The kidneys form urine by filtering the blood. They are shaped like beans and reach 10-12 centimeters in length.

One process extends from the buds, 30 centimeters long and up to 7 centimeters in diameter. These are muscular tubes that carry urine to the bladder in small amounts at intervals of about 20 seconds.

When fluid accumulates sufficient quantity, the bladder contracts and removes it through a special channel - the urethra. It is not the same different genders. So, 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, in men, ducts with sperm exit into it.

To prevent the urea from rising up again when exerted, the ureters narrow in three places: near the connection with the kidneys, at the connection with the bladder, and at the point where the iliac vessels pass.

Where is the bubble?

The functions of the human bladder completely determine its structure and position inside the body. The organ is located in the lower part of the small pelvis in the retroperitoneal space behind the pubic region. It is bordered on the sides by muscles that are responsible for raising the anus.

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 changes somewhat. In men, it is located next to the rectum, and its bottom rests on the prostate. In women, the bladder is located near the vagina.

The following elements of the organ are distinguished: the upper part, the body or main part, the neck and the bottom. The apex is the narrowed part directed towards inner wall belly. Its end passes into the umbilical ligament.

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

Internal structure

The bladder is muscular organ. It is hollow inside, and its walls consist of several layers. The body of the bladder is covered on top by smooth muscles: they are longitudinal on the outside, round in the middle, and reticulate on the inside. In the neck area they are supplemented by striated muscles.

The muscles are responsible for contracting the walls of the bladder. Underneath them is loose connective tissue. It is penetrated by a dense network of vessels that supply the organ with blood. Inside there is a mucous membrane of transitional epithelium. It secretes a secretion that prevents the bladder tissue from coming into contact with microbes.

The ureters enter the organ from the sides at an angle. Around the neck there is a circular muscle - the sphincter. This is a kind of valve that, when compressed, closes the opening of the excretory canal and prevents spontaneous urination.

Bladder functions

This organ can easily be compared to a vessel or sac. In our body, it plays the role of a reservoir that accumulates fluid processed by the kidneys and then removes it out. Together with water, substances it does not need come out of the body - excesses that cannot be absorbed, as well as poisons and toxins.

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

Thanks to our “storage” and, of course, the sphincter muscle that holds urine, a person can visit the restroom much less often and at a time convenient for him. You should also not overuse this, so as not to worsen the condition of your organs.

Features of the bladder

With moderate drinking and normal operation organs per day, a person excretes up to 1.5-2 liters of urine. The capacity of the bladder itself for men is from 0.3 to 0.75 liters, and for women up to 0.5 liters.

In the absence of fluid, the organ is relaxed and resembles a deflated balloon. 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 greatly depends on the amount of liquid drunk, air temperature and other external conditions. We begin to experience the urge to urinate when the bladder is filled more than 200 mm.

Except blood vessels, located in the walls of the organ large number nerve endings, nodes and neurons. They conduct a signal to the brain, indicating that the bladder is already full.

Diseases in men

Due to 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 due to diseases of other systems. Prostatitis, for example, causes the prostate to become enlarged, which blocks the urinary tract.

However, bladder function may be impaired by cystitis, urolithiasis, oncological diseases, tuberculosis, leukoplakia. Symptoms clearly indicate malfunction organ, are itching, burning, various discomfort, change in color, transparency and pressure of urine, “double urination”, etc.

One of the disorders is the syndrome hyperactive bladder. During this disease, 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 a pathology in the transmission of nerve impulses.

Diseases in women

Bladder dysfunction in women is largely due to the close location of the organ to the reproductive system. The range of diseases here is expanding significantly. Thus, germs and viruses from the genital organs easily pass into the urethra, and from there into the bladder itself.

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

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

Prevention

It is quite difficult to completely protect yourself from all diseases. But a number simple actions It will serve as a good preventive measure so as not to expose yourself to troubles again. In order not to disrupt the function of the bladder, first of all, you should not overcool your legs and pelvic organs.

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

To maintain your health, you should consult a doctor promptly if you experience discomfort or pain. Even if they are absent, you need to check at least once a year. It is an excellent preventive measure for many diseases. good sleep, rest, balanced diet and an established rhythm of life.

The urinary bladder (UB) consists smooth muscle(detrusor) and mucous membrane. As the organ fills, it is able to stretch and expand. The fluid in the bladder is eliminated from the body through the urethra. In normal condition the hole urethra remains closed due to muscle work pelvic floor.

Normal

How does the desire to urinate appear? The bladder detrusor is in a relaxed state most of the time and maintains low pressure inside the organ. As fluid enters it, the MP walls stretch and the pressure increases. When the bladder is filled to about half its maximum capacity, nerve endings send impulses to the brain. As a result, an adult becomes aware of the need to urinate. At the same time, the muscles of the pelvic floor and urethra become toned, which allows you to postpone going to the toilet for a while.

How does urination occur? When the bladder empties, the brain sends a signal back to the bladder muscles, which contract and expel fluid. At the same moment, the muscles of the pelvic floor and urethra relax, as a result, the lumen of the urethra opens, through which the fluid is discharged out.

For hyperactivity

When the first urge to urinate occurs, most adults can hold off emptying their bladder for some time until they can go to the toilet. However, in some cases, nerve endings in the MP send incorrect signals to the brain, interpreted as overflow of this body. In reality, the bubble may be filled to less than half its volume. In this case, the organ contracts too early, and the person is forced to visit the toilet frequently. With an overactive bladder, the urge to urinate is so strong that it is very difficult to resist emptying it.

Urine, constantly filtered from the blood plasma by the kidneys, flows through the ureters into the bladder. Here it accumulates to a certain volume and is then excreted through the urethra from the body. The process of urination, or miction, is a complex of complex and sequential actions that the organ performs together with the urethra up to 10 times a day, under control spinal nerves and cerebral cortex. Let's take a closer look at how this happens, where the bladder is located, and whether there are differences in its structure and functions in men, women and children of various ages, what is the view on his activities in oriental medicine.

How does the bladder work?

This unpaired spherical organ is created to serve as an excellent container for urine entering the ureters. It can stretch and increase its volume if necessary, but up to certain values. Depending on the height and weight of a person, the size of the organ varies. On average, bladder capacity is 500-700 ml, but there are significant individual variations.

Thus, the volume of the bladder in men is slightly larger than in women and children, and varies from 350 to 750 ml. Female organ holds 250-550 ml of urine; The volume norm in children, given their constant growth, also gradually increases. So, at one year of age it is 50 ml, at 3 years - 100 ml, and at 11-14 years it can reach up to 400 ml. In some conditions, when it is impossible to empty the bladder in time, its walls stretch significantly, and the capacity in adulthood reaches 1000 ml (1 liter) of urine.

The organ size is individual characteristics in gender or age aspect, but it can also be influenced by various pathological or physiological conditions. For example, some diseases or degenerative processes.

All these factors can be represented as follows:

• surgical correction that reduces the size of the organ;
• long-term chronic diseases leading to “wrinkling”;
• neoplasms that reduce the volume of internal space;
• influence from others internal organs(for example, compression of the bladder in women by the growing uterus during pregnancy);
• neurological diseases;
• degenerative-dystrophic processes in old age, leading to loss of normal tone of the detrusor or sphincters.

The brain is actively involved in urination

The inner surface of the organ has special baroreceptors that respond to increased pressure in it. As soon as approximately 200 ml of urine accumulates, the pressure in the cavity increases, and signals about this are sent to the cerebral cortex, to those parts of it that are responsible for the act of urination. From this moment on, a feeling of urge is formed, and the person knows that soon he will need to go to the toilet.

As urine accumulates, the urge to urinate increases, but the sphincter of the bladder is in a compressed state, preventing involuntary leakage of fluid. With the help of the sphincters of the organ and the urethra, a person can hold urine for 2 to 5 hours. The process of miction itself is regulated both by the cerebral cortex and by nerve branches extending from spinal cord, and occurs as a result of contraction of the muscle layer and relaxation of the sphincters.

In children, the process of formation normal process urination is quite long and takes 3-4 years (although, if parents try, they can teach the child to ask to go to the potty even at 1.5-2 years). From an unconditioned spinal reflex it becomes a voluntary reflex. This involves the cerebral cortex, subcortical centers, spinal zones (parts of the spinal cord), and the peripheral nervous system.

There are many different congenital and acquired diseases in which the urination process is disrupted. The reasons may lie in organic, or somatic, pathologies of the organ that affect the normal structure of tissues ( infectious diseases, neoplasms, influence of neighboring organs) or in violation nervous regulation.

Structure

The anatomy of the bladder includes its localization in the human body, interaction with surrounding structures, macroscopic (conditional division into parts) and microscopic structure(from what fabrics). This organ looks like a small round sac and is located in the pelvic cavity. If it is emptied, it occupies a small volume and is completely hidden by the symphysis pubis. To this bone formation it adjoins with its front surface. As it fills, its size also increases, the walls of the organ straighten, and it gradually begins to rise above the symphysis pubis. In this state, it can be palpated (palpated) during a medical examination, ultrasound scanning, perform a puncture through the anterior abdominal wall.

The walls of the organ may be affected various diseases, and the urethra is compressed by the increased prostate gland

The back surface of the bladder in women is in contact with the organs reproductive system: vagina, uterus and ovaries. Further back is the final segment of the intestine, the rectum. The bladder in men is separated from the intestine by the seminal vesicles and a segment of the vas deferens. The upper part of the organ borders the loops small intestine. In newborn babies it is located higher than in adults, above the symphysis pubis. Only after a few months the apex disappears behind a bone formation.

The human bladder can be divided into several components:

• walls – front, side, back;
• body;
• bladder neck.

The anterior wall of the organ borders the anterior abdominal wall and the pubic joint, separated from them by a layer of loose fatty tissue that fills the prevesical space. The posterior and lateral walls are also separated from neighboring structures by fiber and the visceral layer of the peritoneum (a special tissue layer covering all organs). The upper part of the organ is more mobile and capable of significantly stretching, since it is not fixed ligamentous apparatus. With large stretching, the wall thickness can be only 2-3 mm, with empty organ it reaches 15 mm.

On back wall , in its middle part, the bubble has two holes. These are the orifices of the ureters, symmetrically located, and they flow into the organ cavity at a certain angle. This fact is extremely important, since this forms a kind of “closing” mechanism that prevents urine from entering the ureters during detrusor contraction and urination. When this mechanism is disrupted, vesicoureteral reflux is formed, which can be called both an independent disease and a complication of other pathologies of the urinary system.

The oblique entry of the ureters is very important for the formation of a special valve mechanism

Upper part hollow organ conditionally divided into top and bottom. The bottom part is at the back and faces down, and the top is directed towards the front abdominal wall and passes into the umbilical ligament. The bottom of the bladder, when filled with urine, rises above the symphysis pubis, so the apex begins to fit tightly to the anterior abdominal wall. The body of the organ is located between the bottom and the apex.

The lower part gradually narrows and forms the neck of the bladder, which, through the sphincter apparatus, passes into the urethra. In a man upper part the urethra and bladder neck are covered by prostate tissue, which, when developed in it pathological processes, has a huge impact on the process of urination. In women, the bladder in its lower part borders directly on the muscles of the pelvic diaphragm.

The organ wall is three-layered and consists of the following structures:

• mucous membrane and submucosal layer;
• detrusor, or muscle layer;
• outer membrane covered by the visceral layer of peritoneum.

At histological examination(examination of tissue under a microscope) it is discovered that the mucous membrane consists of an outer epithelial layer and an underlying submucosal plate formed by a loose connective tissue. It is thanks to the submucosal layer that when the cavity is unfilled, the mucous membrane forms a large number of folds, which straighten out when the organ is stretched. But the submucosal layer is not present everywhere. It is absent in the area of ​​the so-called vesical triangle, the apexes of which are the openings of the ureters and the orifice of the urethra. In this zone, the mucous membrane is adjacent directly to the muscle layer.

The urothelium, or epithelial layer of the mucous membrane, has several rows of cells. Each of them performs a specific task. Thus, the outermost layer consists of rounded cells, which, when the organ wall is stretched, become flat, thereby ensuring the integrity of the structure.

The transitional epithelium of the mucous membrane consists of several rows of cells various shapes and appointments

The muscle layer is made of three types of fibers, the functionality of which ensures the functioning of the entire organ: longitudinal, transverse, circular. Circular muscle fibers are especially developed around the ureters flowing into the organ and the mouth of the urethra. In these places they form muscular sphincters, or sphincters. During cystoscopy, in the resulting photo of the bladder from the inside, the ureteral sphincters look like small depressions, and the more developed sphincter in the lower part of the organ looks like a crescent-shaped area with a pink tint.

Functions

The most important task of the organ is to accumulate a certain amount of urine, store it for a certain time and regularly remove it from the body. These tasks are performed as expected if the mucous membrane is not affected by inflammatory or tumor process, the size of the organ is within normal limits, and all sphincters and detrusors, regulated by the nervous system, function like a “clock”.

As soon as even one of these mechanisms is disrupted, the functionality of the organ is impaired, which is expressed by various dysuric symptoms. Thus, with a neurogenic disorder, the normal regulation of the muscle layer and sphincters by the nervous system “breaks down”. This occurs with congenital or acquired neurological diseases, and at the same time hypo- or hyperreflexia is diagnosed, which is expressed either by incontinence or urinary retention (when the patient cannot urinate regularly). In another pathology, vesicoureteral reflux, which is formed in the absence or underdevelopment of the valve and sphincter mechanisms of the ureters, reverse flow of urine is observed. This may lead to undesirable consequences in the form of pyelonephritis and other kidney diseases.

From specialists oriental medicine a completely different view of health and illness

What is the urinary meridian and channel

From the point of view of Eastern medicine, each internal human organ has special channels, or meridians, through which it receives energy. These meridians, including the bladder channel, intertwine and connect with each other, emerge from one another, forming a single whole. It is the interaction of the channels of the internal organs and the energy flow flowing through them that explains both the health of people and their entire possible diseases.

The bladder meridian not only regulates the formation of urine in the kidneys, its accumulation and removal during urination, it is through it that all waste and toxins are removed from the body. It is quite long and branched, due to which it can influence the activity of other organs. The bladder canal starts from the eyes and passes through parietal part head, then between the shoulder blades it runs along the spine and at the sacrum it enters the body, reaching the kidneys and ending in the hollow organ. Its branches cover the head, body, and descend to the feet.

This meridian is paired and symmetrical and belongs to the Yang type; energy moves along it in a centrifugal direction. If it is excessive, then following signs: abdominal and back pain, increased urination, spasmodic contraction calf muscles, pain in the eyes, watery eyes, maybe nosebleed. With a lack of energy, urination becomes rare, swelling, pain in the spine, weakness in the legs, and hemorrhoids appear.

The minimum energy activity of the channel is observed at night, between 3 and 5 o'clock; at this time it is not allowed to influence the meridian. The most convenient time for influencing the channel - this is the interval between 15 and 17 hours. It is then that Eastern medicine specialists seek to treat the patient by influencing the organs through the bladder meridian.

According to statistics, 17% of women and 16% of men suffer from bladder disease, but only 4% seek help from a specialist. Many people simply do not realize that they have any health problems. So how can you recognize the presence of bladder disease? First of all, it is necessary to find out what is meant by this term.

What does overactive bladder (OAB) mean?

The bladder is an organ consisting entirely of muscle tissue. Its task is to accumulate and remove urine through the urethra. It is worth noting that the location, shape and size of the organ change depending on its filling. Where is the bladder located? The filled organ has an ovoid shape and is located above the transitional connection between the bones of the skeleton (symphysis), adjacent to the abdominal wall, displacing the peritoneum upward. The empty bladder lies completely in the pelvic cavity.

GPM is clinical syndrome, in which there is a frequent, unexpected and difficult to suppress urge to urinate (they can be both at night and at night). daytime). The word “overactive” means that the bladder muscles work (contract) in an increased mode with a small amount of urine. This provokes frequent intolerable urges in the patient. Thus, the patient develops the false feeling that he has a constantly full bladder.

Development of the disease

Excessive bladder activity is caused by a decrease in the number of M-cholinergic receptors. Their number changes under the influence of certain reasons. In response to a lack of nervous regulation, the smooth muscle tissues of the organ form structural formations close relationships between neighboring cells. The result of this process is a sharp increase in conductivity nerve impulse in the muscular lining of the bladder. Smooth muscle cells have high spontaneous activity and begin to respond to a minor stimulus (a small amount of urine). Their contraction quickly spreads to other groups of cells in the organ, causing OAB syndrome (overactive bladder).

Factors in the occurrence of gas-contaminated soils

1. Neurogenic:

Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems (for example, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease);

Stroke;

Multiple sclerosis;

Osteochondrosis;

Diabetes mellitus;

Spinal cord injuries;

Schmorl's hernia;

Consequences of surgical treatment of the spine;

Spondyloarthrosis of the spine;

Intoxication;

Myelomeningocele.

2. Non-neurogenic:

Prostate adenoma;

Age;

Anatomical disorders of the vesico-urethral area;

Sensory disturbances, mainly associated with a lack of estrogen during fasting menopause.

Forms of the disease

In medicine, there are two forms of GPM disease:

Idiopathic GPM - the disease is caused by a change in the contractile activity of the bladder, the cause of the disorders is unclear;

Neurogenic bladder - disorders contractile function organs are characteristic of diseases of the nervous system.

Characteristic symptoms

An overactive bladder is defined by the following symptoms:

Frequent urge to urinate, with small amounts of urine being released;

Inability to hold urine - a sudden urge to urinate so strong that the patient does not have time to make it to the toilet;

Repeated urination at night (a healthy person should not urinate at night);

Urinary incontinence is the uncontrollable leakage of urine.

GPM in women

Overactive bladder in women most often develops during pregnancy and old age. During pregnancy, the body undergoes great changes and experiences great stress, which is associated with an increasing size of the uterus. Frequent urination during this period causes considerable discomfort. to the expectant mother, but a woman should not be embarrassed to tell her doctor about it. Today there is wide choice medications for this problem that will not harm either mother or baby. Self-medication in this case is strictly prohibited. Your doctor will tell you how to treat your bladder during pregnancy.

In old age, GPM occurs with the onset of menopause. This is due to changes hormonal levels women, lack of vitamins and minerals, the appearance nervous disorders during this period, etc. In this situation, a woman should also seek help from a doctor. At proper treatment painful symptoms the illnesses will disappear after a few weeks.

GPM in men

Bladder diseases are also common among men. If there are no diseases of the nervous system, then common cause GPM are pathologies of the prostate gland. An enlarged prostate puts pressure on the walls of the bladder. This pathology often found among middle-aged and older men. If GPM is a consequence of prostate disease, then treatment should be comprehensive. Frequent urination is a completely solvable problem. But for this, when the first symptoms of the disease appear, a man needs to consult a specialist.

GPM in children

Frequent urination is much more common in children than in adults. This is due to the special structure of the bladder and the active functioning of the kidneys in early age. But if a child under 3 years of age has not learned to control urination, then he needs to be shown to a doctor. To correct urination in children, there are special drugs, intended for young patients.

Most often, uncontrolled urination in children is a consequence of fear. In this case, the disorder will be treated in combination with correction psychological state child. Parents should not attribute uncontrollable frequent urination in a child to age. If the disorder is not treated, the disease will bring a lot of discomfort to the baby in the future.

Diagnostics

1. Taking an anamnesis (the doctor records the patient’s complaints).

2. Analysis of existing health problems (presence of chronic diseases, surgical interventions, etc.).

3. General analysis blood.

4. Biochemical analysis blood.

5. General urine analysis.

6. Urinalysis according to Nechiporenko.

7. Urinalysis according to Zimnitsky.

8. Urine culture for bacterial and fungal microflora.

9. Ultrasound of the bladder.

10. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

11. Cystourethroscopy.

12. X-ray examination.

13. CUDI (complex urodynamic study).

14. Consultation with a neurologist.

15. Neurological examination to identify diseases of the spinal cord and brain.

Overactive bladder: treatment

The following methods are used to treat GPM:

1. Drug therapy(antimuscarinic drugs that have a regulating effect on the bladder, etc.). Conservative treatment occupies a leading place in the treatment of GPM. Patients are prescribed:

M-anticholinergic blockers, adrenergic blockers that reduce efferent impulses;

Antidepressants (calming nervous system and thereby improve urinary control);

Toxic substances (reduce the sensitivity of the nerve endings of the bladder), for example, butolotoxin are administered intravesically;

Antidiuretic hormone drugs (cause a decrease in urine formation).

Women often experience an overactive bladder during menopause. Treatment in this case consists of taking hormonal drugs.

2. Non-drug treatment.

Behavioral therapy consists of developing a urination routine and lifestyle correction. During the treatment period, the patient must follow a daily routine, avoid stressful situations, do daily hiking on fresh air, watch your diet. People suffering from GPM should not eat spicy dishes, carbonated and caffeinated drinks (tea, coffee, cola), chocolate, sugar substitutes and alcohol.

In addition, during the period of behavioral therapy, the patient needs to empty the bladder according to a certain schedule (depending on the frequency of urination). This method helps to train the bladder muscles and restore control over the urge to urinate.

Physiotherapy may consist of electrical stimulation, electrophoresis, etc.

Exercise therapy - a variety of exercises aimed at strengthening pelvic muscles.

Treatment is based on biofeedback. The patient uses special devices (special sensors are installed, which are inserted into the body of the bladder and rectum; the sensors are also connected to a monitor, it displays the volume of the bladder and records it contractile activity) observes at what volume of fluid the bladder contracts. At this time, the patient must, through volitional efforts, through contraction of the pelvic muscles, suppress the urge and restrain the desire to urinate.

3. Surgical treatment used only in severe cases (bladder denervation, intestinal plastic surgery to divert urine into the intestines, stimulation of the sacral nerve).

Complications of GPM

An overactive bladder affects the patient's quality of life. The patient develops mental disorders: depression, sleep disorders, constant worry. Social maladjustment also occurs - a person partially or completely loses the ability to adapt to conditions environment.

Prevention

1. Visiting a urologist for the purpose preventive examination once a year (delivery necessary tests, performing an ultrasound of the bladder if necessary, etc.).

2. There is no need to postpone a visit to the doctor if symptoms of urination problems appear.

3. It is important to pay attention to the frequency of urination, the development of urge, and the quality of the stream if there are neurological diseases.

Also, for preventive purposes, you can perform Kegel exercises, which will help strengthen the bladder muscles.

1. First you need to tense your muscles, as when holding urination, slowly count to three and relax.

2. Then tense and relax the muscles - it is important to try to do this as quickly as possible.

3. Women need to push down (as during childbirth or bowel movements, but not as hard); for men to strain, as when passing stool or urination.

Frequent urination has a very negative impact on all areas of life. To avoid development psychological problems, you need to seek help from a specialist in time.

The bladder is one of the organs of the human urinary system. Inflammatory processes often occur in the bladder of various etiologies. To promptly detect and begin effective treatment diseases, you need to know where the organ is located, what its main functions are and what pathologies can affect the bladder.

The bladder is considered an unpaired organ located in the pelvis in the lower abdomen, just behind the pubic bone. In the male and female half, the organ is structured almost identically, there are only small features in its structure. The organ has a very elastic structure, due to which, when filled with urine, the bladder tends to stretch.

The bladder consists of:

• body- the main widest part of the bubble. Stretches well, thanks to elastic fibers and the folded structure of the mucous membrane;
• tops- having a pointed shape and adjacent to the anterior wall of the abdomen. The apex can be felt if the bladder is completely filled with urine;
• cervix- lying between the urethra and the bottom of the organ. In appearance, the neck of the bubble resembles a funnel;
• bottom- a wide flat part located below and facing the rectum.

The bladder is made up of muscle tissue appearance it resembles a bag. It is connected to the kidneys by two tubes (ureters), through which urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder. Urine is expelled through the urethra (a hollow tube attached to the bottom of the organ). With the help of fibrous cords, the bladder is fixed to the wall of the pelvis and to neighboring organs.

In newborn babies, the bladder is located in abdominal cavity, only by the 4th month of life the organ descends to its permanent place in the small pelvis.

Structure

The bladder consists of back, front and side walls, which have several layers:

1. Mucous (inner) layer or urothelium. In an empty organ, this layer gathers into folds. When the bladder fills with urine, the folds begin to straighten out, and epithelial cells stretch out. Mucous layer produces a substance - glycocalyx, which protects inner surface organ from various bacteria, urine.
2. Submucosal layer. It is represented by connective tissue fibers through which blood vessels and nerve endings pass.
3. Muscularis or detrusor. Consists of several layers (outer, inner and middle). Thanks to the contraction of this membrane, the organ is able to empty itself.
4. Adventitial membrane. It contains nerve endings and venous plexuses.

In addition, the organ has 2 sphincters, which are an important part of the bladder. The first sphincter is called voluntary. It consists of smooth muscle and is located at the beginning of the urethra. The second sphincter is involuntary, consists of striated muscles and is located in the middle of the urethra. Sphincters are considered to be a kind of “obturator”; thanks to them, urine does not spontaneously leave the body. When urine is removed from the organ, the muscular layer of the sphincters relaxes, and the bladder, on the contrary, tenses.

The capacity of the adult bladder is up to 500, and sometimes up to 700 ml of liquid. In newborn babies, the organ can hold up to 80 ml of urine, and in children from 5 to 12 years old - about 180 ml.

Differences between the male and female bladders:

1. In the female half of humanity, the bladder has a slightly elongated shape, while in the male half it is more round.
2. In the stronger sex, the bladder is adjacent to the prostate gland, and the seminal ducts are adjacent to the sides of the organ. The length of the urethra or urethra varies from 20 to 40 cm, the width is about 7 - 8 mm.
3. In women, the bladder is located near the uterus and vagina. The length of the female urethra differs significantly from the male one and is about 4 cm.
4. The urethra of women is several times wider than that of men, its dimensions are up to 1.5 cm. It is because of this feature of the short and wide urethra that the fair half more often suffers from urinary tract infections.

During pregnancy, a woman's uterus rapidly increases in volume and begins to put pressure on the bladder. Often pregnant women are faced with a problem such as compression of the ureters, which disrupts the normal excretion of urine from the body and causes various infections.

Functions

The bladder has 2 functions:

• it stores urine (reservoir function);
• takes her out human body(evacuation function).

Urine flows through the ureters into the organ cavity approximately every 25 to 30 seconds. The time of arrival and the volume of urine excreted depends on various factors: how much liquid a person drinks, the nature of the drinks, temperature regime environment, stressful situations.

The process of urine separation occurs when the bladder contracts as a result of stretching the walls and irritation of the nerve endings. With the help of a bladder, the human body is freed from waste products.

Bladder diseases

Absolutely healthy person the process of urine excretion occurs completely painlessly, without any disturbances. Entered the body pathogenic bacteria cause inflammatory processes, as a result of which the patient’s urinary function is impaired, pain and cramps are felt, and blood clots may be observed in the urine. Major diseases most often associated with bladder This:

Inflammatory process in the bladder. Pathogenic microflora can enter the organ from the intestines or from the external genitalia. A favorable environment for the occurrence of cystitis is considered congestion in the pelvic area and sedentary image life.

A patient with cystitis experiences symptoms such as: painful and frequent urination, discharge of small portions of urine, increased temperature, burning sensation in the lower abdomen, presence of blood in the urine.

• Atony

With this disease, the bladder is always filled to the maximum, urine comes out in small drops (normally, a healthy bladder secretes urine in certain portions). The disease mainly forms after an injury to the back; sometimes atony develops as a complication after past illness, for example, syphilis.

The disease is also known under another name - urolithiasis. Sand and stones can occur at any age, sometimes even in newborn babies. The causes of urolithiasis are quite extensive:

1. heredity;
2. chronic diseases of the urinary and digestive systems;
3. severe dehydration;
4. impaired metabolism;
5. insufficient intake of vitamin D;
6. abuse of spicy, smoked, salty and sour foods;
7. dysfunction of the parathyroid gland;
8. hot and dry climate.

A person begins to experience pain in the lower abdomen, urination becomes frequent, painful, sometimes mixed with blood. There may be a slight increase in body temperature, high blood pressure. Urine is cloudy in most cases.

• Polyps

Growths form on the lining of the bladder. As a rule, polyps are small in size, but sometimes they can reach a length of several centimeters. The disease does not cause visible discomfort to a person; symptoms are mostly absent. IN in rare cases Due to polyps, there is blood in the urine.

• Bladder tuberculosis

If a person is sick with pulmonary tuberculosis, the causative agent of the disease, as a rule, spreads through the blood and to the genitourinary organs. On initial stage Symptoms of the disease may be completely absent, however, with the development of the inflammatory process, the patient notes the following symptoms:

1. painful frequent urination (up to 20 times a day);
2. blood in urine;
3. pain in lower area back (due to kidney tuberculosis);
4. spontaneous urination;
5. renal colic;
6. cloudy urine, in some cases mixed with pus.

It forms on the walls inside the bubble, mainly in its upper part. The ulcer is surrounded by hyperemic tissues and has rounded shape and releases a little blood with pus. The symptoms of an ulcer resemble those of chronic cystitis: frequent urination, soreness in the groin. In women, the ulcer worsens before the start of the menstrual cycle.

• Tumors in the bladder

Neoplasms in the organ can be either benign or malignant. The reasons for the formation of tumors are not completely clear:

1. TO malignant neoplasms include carcinoma, lymphoma, adenocarcinoma, etc.
2. Benign - adenoma, pheochromocytoma, papilloma.
3. In most cases, tumors do not manifest themselves and the patient may not suspect that something is growing in the bladder. In the final stages of cancer, it is found in the urine large cluster blood.

• Overactive Bladder

The disease can be diagnosed in anyone age category, but it often affects older people.

Risk factors are considered:

1. obesity;
2. passion for sweet carbonated drinks;
3. smoking;
4. frequent consumption of coffee.

Symptoms of the disease: urination more than 8 times a day, urinary incontinence. When the urge to go to the toilet occurs, a person suffering from an overactive bladder cannot hold urine.

• Bladder sclerosis

It affects the neck of the organ, causing the formation of connective fibers, as well as scars. Sclerosis is considered to be the culprit inflammatory process flowing in the organ. Very often sclerosis is a complication after surgical intervention, for example, as a result of removal of prostate adenoma in men. A sign of the disease is a dysfunction of urine excretion, sometimes to the point of complete retention.

• Leukoplakia

The mucous layer of the bladder changes, its epithelial cells have a hard or horny structure. The disease can occur due to the presence of stones, chronic cystitis, as well as chemical or physical impact on the mucous membrane of the organ. A sick person experiences discomfort in the lower abdomen and painful urination.

The bladder is important body human body. In its absence, life is practically impossible. That is why it is necessary to be careful about your health and protect genitourinary organs. To exclude serious illnesses, For example, cancerous tumors, you need to undergo regular bladder examinations.

You can also learn about the bladder from this video.