Most Things Biology

Bladder

Time To Read

1–2 minutes

Date Last Modified

Epithelial Cells

The bladder, like almost all parts of the urinary tract, is lined with transitional epithelial tissue. There are rugae or large folds in the bladder that disappear as the bladder fills.

Smooth Muscle

The bladder is surrounded by the detrusor muscle, which is a smooth, involuntary muscle.

Figure 1:Transitional epithelial tissue lining the bladder
Histological section of bladder tissue, stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E). Upper third of image comprises transitional epithelium with irregular, undulating surface. Deeper layers show smooth muscle bundles, pink with eosin. Nuclei appear purple with hematoxylin. White background.
Figure 2: Microscopic view of bladder tissue showing characteristic undulating mucosa layers and muscle bundles, stained pink and purple.
Figure 3: Transverse section of the bladder with transitional epithelium lining the lumen.
Figure 4: Transitional epithelial tissue of the bladder, non distended.
Illustration of transitional epithelial cells lining the lumen of the bladder, showing dome-shaped apical surface cells and an inset view of the bladder tissue.
Illustration of transitional epithelial cells lining the lumen of the bladder, showing dome-shaped apical surface cells and an inset view of the bladder tissue.

Figures 1 and 2: Non-distended bladder Slide 098
Figure 3 and 4: Bladder, human Slide 212
All by University of Michigan Histology, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.

Explore More on Urinary Histology

Link to more on Urinary Histology

List of terms