The urinary tract system functions to remove excess fluids and waste products from the body. Urine, produced by the kidneys, flows into the bladder where it is held until the bladder becomes full. Emptying the bladder requires interaction between the muscles in the bladder wall, the muscles supporting the bladder, the sphincter muscle between the bladder and urethra, the nerves and the brain. Abnormalities in any of these parts of the bladder can interfere with the bladder functions.
Bladder Diverticulum
The bladder wall can contain an abnormality known as diverticula--small bulging pouches. Diverticula can occur at birth, known as congenital bladder diverticulum, or occur as a result of an obstruction or bladder dysfunction, known as acquired bladder diverticulum. Congenital bladder diverticulum describes an area of weakness in the bladder wall that allows the lining of the bladder to protrude, as described by the American Urological Association Foundation.
Acquired bladder diverticulum represents multiple pouches in the bladder lining. Because acquired bladder diverticulum usually occurs due to an obstruction, older men are at an increased risk. The prostate, a male reproductive gland, surrounds the urethra. When it becomes enlarged, which commonly occurs as men age, the bladder neck and urethra become obstructed. Bladder diverticulum may cause no noticeable symptoms. Some patients will experience difficulty voiding urine, frequent urinary tract infections and an abnormal feeling of fullness.
Prolapsed Bladder
A prolapsed bladder, also known as a cystocele, describes a bladder abnormality in which the bladder bulges into the vagina. The layer of muscle that separates the pelvic region from the perineal region, known as the pelvic floor muscle, supports the bladder, intestines and uterus. The pelvic floor muscles can become weak due to a combination of factors including childbirth, menopause and obesity along with medical conditions such as chronic bronchitis and diabetes.
During times of strenuous exercise or heavy lifting, or even when coughing or sneezing, the organs in the abdominal cavity press against the pelvic floor muscles. Weak muscles cannot provide the needed support and give way allowing organs, in this case the bladder, to bulge through. A prolapsed bladder causes a feeling of pressure in the pelvis, discomfort when coughing or lifting, urine leakage and pain during sexual intercourse. In severe cases the bulge may protrude through the vaginal opening, as described by MayoClinic.com.
Neurogenic Bladder
A neurogenic bladder describes a bladder abnormality that occurs when the nerves that control bladder function become damaged. The damage may occur due to injury caused by accidents or spinal surgery, diseases that affect the nervous system such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis, central nervous system tumors, or stroke, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The symptoms produced by a neurogenic bladder depend upon which nerves are damaged. A neurogenic bladder may cause an overactive bladder in which the bladder contracts spontaneously allowing urine to leak. Damage to the central nervous system can cause an underactive bladder in which the bladder fails to receive nerve signals. In this case the bladder continues to fill until the building pressure causes urine to leak.
