644 URINARY BLADDER. 



Its position and capacity vary according as it is full or 

 empty, and also according to age, sex, habit and disease. 

 When empty, in the adult, it is contracted and found below 

 and behind the pubes, and presents a flat, triangular shape. 

 When moderately distended, it rises above the pubis, in con- 

 tact with the recti muscles, and in front of the peritoneum, 

 and assumes the form of an ovoid, the larger end being be- 

 low upon the rectum, the smaller end above ; when com- 

 pletely full, it rises still higher, enlarging more and more, 

 and having its larger end above and the smaller below. In 

 the foetus it is relatively larger than in the adult. In the 

 female it is larger than in the male, and the habit of retain- 

 ing the urine renders it larger than when the calls of nature 

 are promptly attended to. In disease every variety of size 

 and the highest and lowest positions are seen. 



The form of the bladder has been stated to be ovoid or 

 FIG. 207. egg-shape, but presenting differen- 



ces according to causes above men- 

 tioned. Its direction or long axis 

 is oblique from above downward 

 and backward, and this obliquity, 

 which varies with its distention, 

 will correspond to a line extending 

 from between the umbilicus and 

 pubis to the coccyx. Its divisions 

 are into a body or central portion, 

 an upper or superior fundus ^ a lower 

 or inferior fundus or base, and a 

 cervix or neck. It is retained in its position by ligaments, 

 which are divided into the false and the true. The false are 

 formed by reflections of the peritoneum, and are two poste- 

 rior and two lateral. TJie posterior extend one on either 

 side, in a semilunar form, from the front of the rectum to 

 the back part of the bladder, and contain the obliterated 



FIG. 207 represents the Urinary Bladder and its appendages, a Muscular 

 structure of the Bladder, b b Ureters, c c Vasa deferentia. d Vesiculae 

 setninales. /Efferent duct of vesiculae seminales. g Ductus ejaculatorius. h 

 Prostate gland, i Membranous portion of urethra. 



