AnatomyPelvis and perineumUrinary bladder and urethra

Female urinary bladder and urethra

Learning objectives

After completing this study unit you will be able to:

Identify the main anatomical features of the female urinary bladder and urethra.
Understand the anatomical relations of the female urinary bladder and urethra to surrounding structures.
Develop an understanding of the neurovascular supply of the female urinary bladder and urethra.

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The empty adult urinary bladder is a pyramidal shaped pouch which receives urine from the kidneys via the ureters and functions to temporarily store urine received from the kidneys before it is passed through the urethra for elimination.

The female urinary bladder is located posterior to the pubic symphysis in the retropubic space and lies just anterior to the vagina. Similar to its male counterpart, the female urinary bladder has three surfaces: a superior surface and two inferolateral surfaces. It consists of four distinct parts: apex, body, fundus and neck of the urinary bladder.

The female urethra, which is much shorter than that found in males, extends from the neck of the urinary bladder at the internal urethral orifice and measures approximately 5 cm in length.

Find out more about the female urinary bladder and urethra by watching the video below!

Take a quiz

That’s a lot to learn! Why not test and consolidate your knowledge with the quiz below:

Challenge yourself even further with a fully customizable quiz on the structures of the female pelvis and perineum.

Browse atlas

Explore the anatomical features and surrounding structures of the female urinary bladder and urethra seen on a coronal section in the image galleries below.

Now that you have a good understanding of the female urinary bladder, let’s explore its surrounding structures and relations from different perspectives.

Summary

Key points about the female urinary bladder
Surfaces	Superior, left inferolateral and right inferolateral
Parts	Apex, body, fundus and neck
Lining/wall	Peritoneum (superior surface only), pelvic visceral fascia Bladder wall: Serosa (reflection of peritoneum), detrusor vesicae muscle and mucosa
Internal features	Right ureteric orifice, left ureteric orifice, interureteric crest, trigone and internal urethral orifice
Neurovascular supply	Arterial: Superior vesical artery, vaginal artery Venous: Vesical venous plexus (vesical veins) Nerve: Vesical plexus, inferior hypogastric plexus
Surrounding structures and spaces	Superior: pelvic visceral fascia, peritoneal membrane and sigmoid colon Anterior: Retropubic space and pubic symphysis Posterior: Vesicouterine pouch and vagina Inferior: Pelvic diaphragm

Key points about the female urethra
Begins	Internal urethral orifice of urinary bladder
Ends	External urethral orifice [vestibule of vagina]
Neurovascular supply	Arterial: Internal pudendal artery, vaginal artery Venous: Vesical venous plexus (vesical veins) Nerve: Vesical plexus, pudendal nerve
Surrounding structures	Pelvic diaphragm, external urethral sphincter, compressor urethrae, sphincter urethrovaginalis, perineal membrane, and urethral glands

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