Your bladder is an organ in the urinary system, which also includes the kidneys, ureters, sphincter muscles and urethra, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. One of the body's storage units, the bladder houses urine until the sensory nerves signal the body to expel the urine, according to Penn Medicine.
Size
The bladder is shaped like a balloon and holds a maximum of 16 ounces--2 cups--of urine, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NKUDIC. The ureters that are connected to the kidneys allow the urine to flow downward every 10 to 15 seconds.
Function
The bladder's chief function is to act as a storage unit for urine, the body's liquid waste. The bladder can hold its maximum urine load for two to five hours, according to Mama's Health. The ureters empty the urine into the bladder. When it becomes full, nerves send messages to the brain, signaling the bladder is filling up. When you are using the bathroom, your brain is sending further signals to the muscles for urine to flow out of the bladder.
Diseases
The bladder is subject to several diseases that affect urinary function, including infection, when urine does not flow properly between the ureters and kidneys, according to Medline Plus. Urinary incontinence occurs when the bladder muscles no longer function properly, and urinary flow cannot be controlled. Cancer of the bladder is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. Urinary retention problems, in which the bladder is never completely emptied, also are common, according to the NKUDIC.
Identification
Your bladder is fitted into the pelvis and secured in place with ligaments. It is connected on the top portion to the ureters, then empties via the urethra, according to Mama's Health. The bladder also has sensory nerves that connect to the spinal cord; the nerves send messages back and forth to and from the brain when signals, according to Penn Medicine.
Medical Specialists
The medical specialist you seek for your bladder-related condition depends on the nature of the problem. For example, a urologist treats disorders of the urinary and male reproductive system, according to the NKUDIC. A gynecologist can treat urinary conditions, such as a urinary tract infection. Urogynecologists can treat bladder disorders such as incontinence.
