Urinary Bladder

The urinary bladder is a muscular sac-like organ located in the lower abdomen that functions to store urine before it is expelled from the body through the urethra. The bladder is part of the urinary system, which also includes the kidneys, ureters, and urethra. When the bladder is empty, it is collapsed and rests behind the pubic bone. As urine fills the bladder, it stretches and expands, triggering nerve signals that eventually lead to the sensation of needing to urinate. The bladder’s muscular walls contract when a person is ready to urinate, forcing the urine out of the body through the urethra.