Abstract
The fetal urinary bladder extends high into the abdomen even when empty, compared to the adult bladder, which is found entirely within the pelvis minor. The fetal bladder is flanked by the two umbilical arteries, one on each side, and it is anchored to the umbilicus by the cord-like remnant of the urachus. In fact, the dome of the fetal bladder tapers off into the urachal remnant, giving the organ an almond-like shape. Bladder development is dependent on urine production; therefore, any condition that impairs the latter (ie, renal agenesis, severe renal cystic disease, renal tubular dysplasia) will result in hypoplasia of the bladder. Conversely, the fetal bladder becomes enlarged and hypertrophic in the presence of prolonged bladder outlet or urethral obstruction. These pathologic changes should be distinguished from the normal variability of physiologic dilatation, which will also affect the thickness of the wall and its histological appearance.
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Ruchelli, E.D., Ruchelli, E.D., Huff, D.S., Huff, D.S. (2011). Urinary Bladder. In: Ernst, L., Ruchelli, E., Huff, D. (eds) Color Atlas of Fetal and Neonatal Histology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0019-6_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0019-6_8
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