Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (761 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters (ureter), and is held there until urination.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Bladder, Urinary; Bladder; Bladder Detrusor Muscle; Bladder Detrusor Muscles; Detrusor Muscle, Bladder; Detrusor Muscles, Bladder; Detrusor Urinae.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Urinary Tract
- See also
- Administration, Intravesical; Cystoscopy; Cystostomy; Urinary Catheterization; Cystectomy
Related concepts
- Urinary Tract
- Urine
- Kidney
- Ureter
- Urination
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 57,537 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Urinary Bladder” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 7,235 of them (12.6%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 30,079 records.
Reviews account for 4,429 records (7.7%) and meta-analyses for 176. Randomized controlled trials number 833 (1.4%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 30,079 |
| 2000-2009 | 9,121 |
| 2010-2019 | 11,102 |
| 2020 onward | 7,235 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 4,429 | 7.7% |
| Meta-analyses | 176 | 0.3% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 833 | 1.4% |
Method: PubMed query "Urinary Bladder"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
Sex and smoking bias in the selection of somatic mutations in human bladder [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Men are at higher risk of several cancer types than women1.
- Closing excerpt
- The high number of mutations identified by this approach offers a new strategy to study the functional effect of thousands of mutations in vivo-natural saturation mutagenesis-that can be extended to other human tissues.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (202 words)
Men are at higher risk of several cancer types than women1. For bladder cancer the risk is four times higher for reasons that are not clear2. Smoking is also a principal risk factor for several tumour types, including bladder cancer3. As tumourigenesis is driven by somatic mutations, we wondered whether the landscape of clones in the normal bladder differs by sex and smoking history. Using ultradeep duplex DNA sequencing (approximately 5,000×), we identified thousands of clonal driver mutations in 16 genes across 79 normal bladder samples from 45 people. Men had significantly more truncating driver mutations in RBM10, CDKN1A and ARID1A than women, despite similar levels of non-protein-affecting mutations. This result indicates stronger positive selection on driver truncating mutations in these genes in the male urothelium. We also found activating TERT promoter mutations driving clonal expansions in the normal bladder that were associated strongly with age and smoking. These findings indicate that bladder cancer risk factors, such as sex and smoking, shape the clonal landscape of the normal urothelium. The high number of mutations identified by this approach offers a new strategy to study the functional effect of thousands of mutations in vivo-natural saturation mutagenesis-that can be extended to other human tissues.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41062697 · DOI · PMC12611770
Effects of Nitric Oxide on Bladder Detrusor Overactivity through the NRF2 and HIF-1α Pathways: A Rat Model Induced by Metabolic Syndrome and Ovarian Hormone Deficiency [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Metabolic syndrome (MetS) includes cardiovascular risk factors like obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and glucose intolerance, which increase the risk of overactive bladder (OAB), characterized by urgency, frequency, urge incontinence, and nocturia.
- Closing excerpt
- In summary, MetS with or without OHD decreased NO production, reduced angiogenesis, and enhanced oxidative stress to cause bladder overactivity, mediated through the NF-kB signaling pathway, whereas L-arginine ameliorated the symptoms of detrusor overactivity and lessened oxidative damage via the NRF2/HIF-1α signaling pathway in MetS with or without OHD-induced OAB.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (201 words)
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) includes cardiovascular risk factors like obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and glucose intolerance, which increase the risk of overactive bladder (OAB), characterized by urgency, frequency, urge incontinence, and nocturia. Both MetS and ovarian hormone deficiency (OHD) are linked to bladder overactivity. Nitric oxide (NO) is known to reduce inflammation and promote healing but its effect on bladder overactivity in MetS and OHD is unclear. This study aimed to investigate NO's impact on detrusor muscle hyperactivity in rats with MetS and OHD. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups based on diet and treatments involving L-arginine (NO precursor) and L-NAME (NOS inhibitor). After 12 months on a high-fat, high-sugar diet with or without OVX, a cystometrogram and tracing analysis of voiding behavior were used to identify the symptoms of detrusor hyperactivity. The MetS with or without OHD group had a worse bladder contractile response while L-arginine ameliorated bladder contractile function. In summary, MetS with or without OHD decreased NO production, reduced angiogenesis, and enhanced oxidative stress to cause bladder overactivity, mediated through the NF-kB signaling pathway, whereas L-arginine ameliorated the symptoms of detrusor overactivity and lessened oxidative damage via the NRF2/HIF-1α signaling pathway in MetS with or without OHD-induced OAB.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 39456884 · DOI · PMC11507610
Investigating the Impact of Estrogen Levels on Voiding Characteristics, Bladder Structure, and Related Proteins in a Mouse Model of Menopause-Induced Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in postmenopausal women.
- Closing excerpt
- This study explored the connection between estrogen levels and urinary frequency, potentially setting the stage for novel methods to address frequent urination symptoms in postmenopausal women.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (203 words)
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in postmenopausal women. These symptoms are often linked to decreased estrogen levels following menopause. This study investigated the relationship between estrogen levels, alterations in bladder tissue structure, bladder function, and the incidence of urinary frequency. An age-appropriate bilateral ovariectomized mouse model (OVX) was developed to simulate conditions of estrogen deficiency. Mice were divided into three groups: a sham-operated control group, OVX, and an estradiol-treated group. The assessments included estrogen level measurement, urination frequency, cystometry, histological analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and real-time quantitative PCR. Additionally, we quantified the expression of the mechanosensitive channel proteins Piezo1 and TRPV4 in mouse bladder tissues. Lower estrogen levels were linked to increased voiding episodes and structural changes in mouse bladder tissues, notably a significant increase in Collagen III fiber deposition. There was a detectable negative relationship between estrogen levels and the expression of Piezo1 and TRPV4, mechanosensitive proteins in mouse bladder tissues, which may influence voiding frequency and nocturia. Estrogen treatment could improve bladder function, decrease urination frequency, and reduce collagen deposition in the bladder tissues. This study explored the connection between estrogen levels and urinary frequency, potentially setting the stage for novel methods to address frequent urination symptoms in postmenopausal women.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 39334811 · DOI · PMC11429749
A microphysiological human mini-bladder reveals urine-urothelium interplay in tissue resilience and UPEC recurrence in urinary tract infections [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Urine is a dynamic and highly variable biofluid.
- Closing excerpt
- Our findings expand the conceptual role for CWD UPEC in UTIs, and demonstrate the power of the mini-bladder platform to capture urine-urothelial microenvironment dynamics that actively shape UTI pathogenesis and antibiotic tolerance.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (155 words)
Urine is a dynamic and highly variable biofluid. Urine-urothelium interactions are a critical yet underexplored factor in bladder homoeostasis and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Here, we report on a human 'mini-bladder' model that exposes a stratified urothelium to urine of defined composition, and incorporates micturition. Prolonged exposure to high-solute concentration urine weakens tight junctions, dysregulates immune responses, and reduces bladder tissue resilience. This increases susceptibility to colonisation of the bladder by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) which reduces efficacy of antibiotic therapy. In high-solute concentration urine, Fosfomycin monotherapy - prescribed for uncomplicated UTIs, induces the formation of cell wall-deficient (CWD) UPEC in the urine (as observed in patients with recurrent UTIs) but also within deeper urothelial layers. Tissue-associated CWD UPEC directly contributes to recurrence. Our findings expand the conceptual role for CWD UPEC in UTIs, and demonstrate the power of the mini-bladder platform to capture urine-urothelial microenvironment dynamics that actively shape UTI pathogenesis and antibiotic tolerance.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41634008 · DOI · PMC12976268
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting urinary continence recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy [5]
- Research article A Comprehensive Review of Overactive Bladder Pathophysiology: On the Way to Tailored Treatment [6]
- Research article Urinary incontinence in women [7]
- Research article Efficacy and Tolerability of Mirabegron Compared with Antimuscarinic Monotherapy or Combination Therapies for Overactive Bladder: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Single-incision mini-slings versus standard midurethral slings in surgical management of female stress urinary incontinence: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness and complications [9]
- Research article Effectiveness of percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation for overactive bladder: a systematic review and meta-analysis [10]
References
- Calvet F, Blanco Martinez-Illescas R, Muiños F, Tretiakova M, Latorre-Esteves ES, Fredrickson J, et al.. Sex and smoking bias in the selection of somatic mutations in human bladder. . 2025. PMID 41062697 · DOI · PMC12611770
- Lin HY, Lu JH, Lin RJ, Chueh KS, Juan TJ, Mao JW, et al.. Effects of Nitric Oxide on Bladder Detrusor Overactivity through the NRF2 and HIF-1α Pathways: A Rat Model Induced by Metabolic Syndrome and Ovarian Hormone Deficiency. . 2024. PMID 39456884 · DOI · PMC11507610
- Zhang C, Chen Y, Yin L, Deng G, Xia X, Tang X, et al.. Investigating the Impact of Estrogen Levels on Voiding Characteristics, Bladder Structure, and Related Proteins in a Mouse Model of Menopause-Induced Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. . 2024. PMID 39334811 · DOI · PMC11429749
- Paduthol G, Nikolaev M, Sharma K, Blanc J, Tomasek K, Schlunke LIE, et al.. A microphysiological human mini-bladder reveals urine-urothelium interplay in tissue resilience and UPEC recurrence in urinary tract infections. . 2026. PMID 41634008 · DOI · PMC12976268
- Ficarra V, Novara G, Rosen RC, Artibani W, Carroll PR, Costello A, et al.. Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting urinary continence recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Eur Urol. 2012. PMID 22749852 · DOI
- Peyronnet B, Mironska E, Chapple C, Cardozo L, Oelke M, Dmochowski R, et al.. A Comprehensive Review of Overactive Bladder Pathophysiology: On the Way to Tailored Treatment. Eur Urol. 2019. PMID 30922690 · DOI
- Aoki Y, Brown HW, Brubaker L, Cornu JN, Daly JO, Cartwright R. Urinary incontinence in women. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017. PMID 28681849 · DOI · PMC5878864
- Kelleher C, Hakimi Z, Zur R, Siddiqui E, Maman K, Aballéa S, et al.. Efficacy and Tolerability of Mirabegron Compared with Antimuscarinic Monotherapy or Combination Therapies for Overactive Bladder: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. Eur Urol. 2018. PMID 29699858 · DOI
- Mostafa A, Lim CP, Hopper L, Madhuvrata P, Abdel-Fattah M. Single-incision mini-slings versus standard midurethral slings in surgical management of female stress urinary incontinence: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness and complications. Eur Urol. 2014. PMID 24055431 · DOI
- Burton C, Sajja A, Latthe PM. Effectiveness of percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation for overactive bladder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurourol Urodyn. 2012. PMID 22581511 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.