Kusepõies

Kusepõies, known in English as the urinary bladder, is a hollow, muscular organ that sits in the pelvis. Its primary function is to store urine, a waste product filtered from the blood by the kidneys. The bladder is a remarkable organ, capable of expanding significantly to hold a considerable volume of urine before signaling the need to urinate.

The bladder is lined with a special type of tissue called transitional epithelium, which allows it to stretch and contract. Surrounding this lining are layers of smooth muscle, collectively called the detrusor muscle. When the bladder fills, these muscles relax. When it's time to empty, the detrusor muscle contracts, pushing urine out of the body through the urethra.

The process of urination, or micturition, is a complex reflex controlled by the nervous system. As the bladder fills, stretch receptors in its walls send signals to the brain. When the brain receives these signals, it can initiate the urge to urinate. The voluntary control over the external urethral sphincter allows individuals to decide when to release the stored urine.

Disruptions to bladder function can lead to various medical conditions, including incontinence (involuntary leakage of urine) and urinary retention (inability to empty the bladder completely). These conditions can arise from a range of factors, including nerve damage, infections, or structural abnormalities. Medical professionals use various methods to diagnose and treat bladder-related issues.