The Urinary Bladder: Function, Location & How It Works

Stores urine until the body is ready to eliminate it

The bladder is a muscular organ that stores urine. It is located in the lower abdomen, behind the pubic bone. The bladder is made up of smooth muscle, which means that it can contract and relax without conscious control.

When urine enters the bladder, it fills up the organ. The bladder wall stretches as it fills, and the muscles of the bladder relax. When the bladder is full, the muscles of the bladder contract and the urine is expelled from the body through the urethra.

The bladder is also involved in controlling urination. When the bladder is full, it sends a signal to the brain. The brain then sends a signal to the bladder to contract and expel the urine.