The urinary bladder is a muscular sac located in the pelvis, above and behind the pubic bone. When empty, it is about the size and shape of a pear. Urine is produced in the kidneys and travels to the bladder through two tubes called ureters.
The bladder stores urine, allowing urination both infrequent and voluntary. It has layers of muscle tissue that stretch to accommodate urine. The normal capacity of the bladder is 400 to 600 mL.
During urination, the bladder muscles contract, 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). Learn more about your bladder.
