THE UKINAKY BLADDER 1279 



Bladder in the Newly Born Infant and in the Child. At birth the empty 



Cavity of uterus 



Cavity of 

 urinary bladder 



Labium anterius 

 (cervicig uteri) 



Symphysis pubis 



Urethra 



Labium minus 

 pudendi 



Labium posterius 

 (cervicis uteri) 



Recto-vaginal 

 reflexion of 

 peritoneum 



Vaginal canal 



Anal canal 



| Sphincter ani 



Median 

 umbilical 

 ligament 

 (urachus) 



Ureter 



FIG. 996. MEDIAN SECTION OF THE PELVIS IN AN ADULT FEMALE. 

 The cavity of the uterus is indicated diagrammatically. 



bladder is spindle- or torpedo-shaped, and its long axis, which extends from the 

 point of attachment of the urachus to 

 the internal urethral orifice, is directed 

 downwards and backwards (Fig. 997). 

 The lateral and posterior borders seen 

 in the adult organ cannot be recognised 

 at birth, nor is there any part of the 

 ibladder wall directed downwards and 

 : backwards, as is the basal surface of 

 the adult organ. In the foetus and 

 i young child the bladder occupies rela- 

 ; tively a much higher level than it does 

 ;in the adult, and, even when empty, 

 : it extends upwards "into the abdominal 

 cavity. Its anterior aspect is in con- 

 tact with the posterior surface of the 

 anterior abdominal wall. At birth the 

 peritoneum forming the recto -vesical 

 'pouch covers the whole of the posterior surface of the bladder, and reaches as low 

 i as the upper limit of the prostate. The internal urethral orifice is placed at a high 

 level, and sinks gradually after birth (Fig. 998, A). In the newly born child this 



Prostate r 



Musculus pubo-vesicalis 



Urethra 



FIG. 997. THE URINARY BLADDER OF A NEWLY 



BORN MALE CHILD, viewed from the side. 



The drawing is from a specimen which had been 



hardened in situ. 



