A bladder is an internal organ that stores and releases urine. When you have to pee, your brain sends a signal to your bladder then the muscles of your bladder contract and force out the urine through the urethra. Your bladder also has a few other functions that you might not realize. Your bladder is part of your urinary system, which helps eliminate excess water and minerals from your body when you excrete fluids. Here are more details about what your bladder does and its functions:
1. Produce Urine.
When you drink a lot of fluids or eat foods high in sodium, your body holds on to more water to help flush out all the excess sodium. When this happens, your kidneys create a chemical called ADH (Anti-Diuretic Hormone), which tells your bladder to hold on to more water. When you need to pee, your bladder contracts and squeezes the extra water into your urine, this process is known as voiding. The amount of time it takes to empty your bladder varies from person to person. When you are dehydrated and need to pee, your bladder signals to your kidneys to release more water, this is why you may get an urge to pee when you are tired or not drinking enough water.
2. Storage.
Your bladder is a storage bag for the urine created in your kidneys. It’s a small, muscular organ shaped like a short, broad pear. Your bladder is about the size of a large grapefruit, squeezing shut when full to prevent urine escaping. During urination, your bladder releases urine from its storage bag through your urethra. Urine leaves your body through the urethra, the tube connecting your bladder to your outside.
3. Help Maintain Blood Pressure.
Your bladder can help maintain your blood pressure in two ways. When your bladder is packed and ready to release, it squeezes the blood against the inside of your abdomen. This process helps lower your blood pressure since the increased blood volume in your chest is reduced. It helps prevent hypotension (low blood pressure). When you’re not peeing, however, your bladder does the opposite. Your bladder’s nerves release a chemical called nitric oxide. This chemical causes smooth muscles in your abdomen and veins to relax, which causes an increase in blood volume. This process helps increase blood pressure.
4. Help You Communicate That You Have To Pee.
If you have a full bladder, you are in danger of having a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). Bacteria travel up your urethra and into your bladder and kidneys during a UTI. Your bladder has a sphincter muscle that keeps your bladder closed when you don’t have to pee. Your autonomic nervous system controls this muscle. When you have to pee, your bladder automatically sends a signal to your brain. This is your body’s way of letting you know it is time to void.
5. Maintain The Health Of Your Urethra.
Your urethra is the tube that transports urine out of the bladder and outside your body. Your bladder contains a mucus-like substance that helps keep your urethra healthy. When you have to pee, your bladder contracts and the muscles squeeze this mucus-like essence into your urethra. This process is known as voiding. The immune cells in your bladder help fight off infections that may travel up the urethra, such as a UTI.
Conclusion.
Your bladder is an internal organ that stores and releases urine. When you have to pee, your brain sends a signal to your bladder the muscles of your bladder contract and force out the urine through the urethra. Your bladder also has a few other functions that you might not realize. Your bladder is part of your urinary system, which helps eliminate excess water and minerals from your body when you excrete fluids. Your bladder produces urine, helps maintain your blood pressure, and enables you to communicate that you have to pee. Your bladder also has a backup system to keep you from getting dizzy when your blood pressure drops
