394 PRACTICAL ANATOMY. 



toward the base ; also the ureters. The base of the blad- 

 der rests on the second part of the rectum, is triangular 

 in form, and measures, when the organ is moderately 

 distended, about two and a half inches from angle to 

 angle. Passing backward to the rectum are two folds of 

 peritoneum, the recto- vesical. In the female the base 

 of the bladder is firmly attached to the cervix uteri and 

 upper part of the vagina. The neck of the bladder is 

 the opening leading into the urethra ; in the male it is 

 surrounded by the prostate gland. The bladder is held 

 in position by five true and five false ligaments ; the true 

 are the two pubo-prostatic, the two lateral, and the 

 urachus ; the false are the two lateral, the two posterior, 

 and the superior, and are formed by the peritoneum. 



The bladder has four coats, serous, muscular, 

 cellular, and mucous. The serous coat is derived from 

 the peritoneum ; it covers the posterior surface of the 

 body and summit and the upper part of the base. The 

 muscular coat consists of longitudinal and circular planes 

 of fibres. The oblique muscles of Bell are delicate 

 bands which pass across the openings of the ureters 

 and are inserted near the neck of the bladder. The 

 cellular coat is loose, and connects the muscular with 

 the mucous coats. The mucous coat is thin, of a pinkish 

 color, and when the organ is distended it is thrown into 

 numerous folds or wrinkles. The epithelium is flat 

 and squamous on the surface, columnar and transitional 

 deeper down. Numerous racemose glands are found 

 imbedded in the mucous membrane. 



At the base of the bladder is the triangle ; the ante- 

 rior angle is at the opening of the urethra, the posterior 

 angles at the openings of the ureters. The triangle is 

 smooth, and closely adherent to the muscular coat. It is 

 not thrown into wrinkles. At the opening of the urethra 



