Urinary Bladder and Micturition Process

Urinary Bladder

The urinary bladder is a muscular sac in the pelvis, just above and behind the pubic bone. When empty, the bladder is about the size and shape of a pear.

Urine is made in the kidneys and travels down two tubes called ureters to the bladder. The bladder stores urine, allowing urination to be infrequent and controlled. The bladder is lined by layers of muscle tissue that stretch to hold urine. The normal capacity of the bladder is 400-600 mL.

During urination, the bladder muscles squeeze, and two sphincters (valves) open to allow urine to flow out. Urine exits the bladder into the urethra, which carries urine out of the body. Because it passes through the penis, the urethra is longer in men (8 inches) than in women (1.5 inches).

What is the urinary tract?

The urinary tract is the body’s drainage system for removing urine, which is made up of wastes and extra fluid. For normal urination to occur, all body parts in the urinary tract need to work together, and in the correct order.

The urinary tract includes two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra.

Kidneys. Two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located just below your rib cage, one on each side of your spine. Every day, your kidneys filter about 120 to 150 quarts of blood to remove wastes and balance fluids. This process produces about 1 to 2 quarts of urine per day.

Ureters. Thin tubes of muscle that connect your kidneys to your bladder and carry urine to the bladder.

Bladder. A hollow, muscular, balloon-shaped organ that expands as it fills with urine. The bladder sits in your pelvis between your hip bones. A normal bladder acts like a reservoir. It can hold 1.5 to 2 cups of urine. Although you do not control how your kidneys function, you can control when to empty your bladder. Bladder emptying is known as urination.

Urethra. A tube located at the bottom of the bladder that allows urine to exit the body during urination. The male’s urethra is about 18 to 20 cm (7 to 8 inches) long and passes along the length of the penis before emptying. 

The urinary tract includes two sets of muscles that work together as a sphincter, closing off the urethra to keep urine in the bladder between your trips to the bathroom.

• The internal sphincter muscles of the bladder neck and urethra stay closed until your brain sends  signals to urinate.
• The external sphincter muscles surround the internal sphincter and provide extra pressure to keep the urethra closed. You can consciously squeeze the external sphincter and the pelvic floor muscles to keep urine from leaking out.

How does urination occur?

To urinate, your brain signals the sphincters to relax. Then it signals the muscular bladder wall to tighten, squeezing urine through the urethra and out of your bladder.

        How often you need to urinate depends on how quickly your kidneys produce the urine that fills the bladder and how much urine your bladder can comfortably hold. The muscles of your bladder wall remain relaxed while the bladder fills with urine, and the sphincter muscles remain contracted to keep urine in the bladder. As your bladder fills up, signals sent to your brain tell you to find a toilet soon.

Bladder & Physiology of Micturition 

Bladder Conditions-

• Cystitis: Inflammation or infection of the bladder causing acute or chronic pain, discomfort, or urinary frequency or hesitancy.
• Urinary stones: Stones (calculi) may form in the kidney and travel down to the bladder. If kidney stones block urine flow to or from the bladder, they can cause severe pain.
• Bladder cancer: A tumor in the bladder is usually discovered after blood is found in the urine. Cigarette smoking and workplace chemical exposures cause most cases of bladder cancer.
• Urinary incontinence: Uncontrolled urination, which may be chronic. Urinary incontinence can result from many causes.
• Overactive bladder: The bladder muscle (detrusor) squeezes uncontrollably, causing some urine to leak out. Detrusor overactivity is a common cause of urinary incontinence.
• Hematuria: Blood in the urine. Hematuria may be harmless, or may be caused by infection or a serious condition like bladder cancer.
• Urinary retention: Urine does not exit the bladder normally due to a blockage or suppressed bladder muscle activity. The bladder may swell to hold more than a quart of urine.
• Cystocele: Weakened pelvic muscles (usually from childbirth) allow the bladder to press on the vagina. Problems with urination can result.
• Bed-wetting (nocturnal enuresis): Bed-wetting is defined as a child age 5 or older who wets the bed at least one or two times a week over at least 3 months.
• Dysuria (painful urination): Pain or discomfort during urination due to infection, irritation, or inflammation of the bladder, urethra,  or external genitals.

Bladder Tests

• Urinalysis: This basic test of urine is done both routinely and when looking for problems with either the bladder or kidneys. The first part of the test is a dipstick. If this is abnormal the urine should be looked at under a microscope.
• Cystoscopy: A narrow tube is passed through the urethra and into the bladder. A light, camera, and tools allow a doctor to diagnose and treat bladder problems.
• Urodynamic testing: A series of tests of urination, usually done in a doctor's office. Urine flow, pressure, bladder capacity, and other measurements can help identify bladder problems.

Treatment in Ayurveda-

In most of the urinary diseases  Tribulus terrestris Linn. (ट्रिब्युलस टेरेस्ट्रिस)/[ Syn-Tribulus lanuginosus Linn] is the best Herb in Ayurveda. Also called Gokshura, ChotaGokhru, Puncture vine, Devil s weed, Gokhru is a herb that is used to deal with kidney and urinary problems and distributed widely around the world.

It is very useful in below diseases-

• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
• PCOS
• Kidney Stones
• Low libido in women
• Heart Health
• Anxiety and depression

You can use it in form of Powder or decoct.

Just search it on the internet and contact your ayurvedic doctor.