URINARY SYSTEM

URINARY SYSTEM

This triangle-shaped, hollow organ is located in the lower abdomen. It is held in place by ligaments that are attached to other organs and the pelvic bones. The bladder's walls relax and expand to store urine, and contract and flatten to empty urine through the urethra. The typical healthy adult bladder can store up to two cups of urine for two to five hours.

Upon examination, specific "landmarks" are used to describe the location of any irregularities in the bladder. These are:

Trigone a triangle-shaped region near the junction of the urethra and the bladder Right and left lateral walls: walls on either side of the trigone Two sphincter muscles. These circular muscles help keep urine from leaking by closing tightly like a rubber band around the opening of the bladder.Nerves in the bladder. The nerves alert a person when it is time to urinate, or empty the bladder.

Urethra This tube allows urine to pass outside the body. The brain signals the bladder muscles to tighten, which squeezes urine out of the bladder. At the same time, the brain signals the sphincter muscles to relax to let urine exit the bladder through the urethra. When all the signals occur in the correct order, normal urination occurs.

Facts about urine Normal, healthy urine is a pale straw or transparent yellow color.Darker yellow or honey colored urine means you need more water.A darker, brownish color may indicate a liver problem or severe dehydration.Pinkish or red urine may mean blood in the urine.