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Medical Glossary

Bladder - The bladder, a part of the urinary tract, is a hollow, muscular, balloon-shaped organ located in the pelvis that normally holds urine until it is voluntarily released.

Incontinence (see "Urinary incontinence")

Interstitial cystitis (IC) - Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammation of the bladder wall that is not caused by bacteria nor treatable with antibiotics; 90% of people with IC are women

Kegel exercises - Kegel exercises ("Kegels") consist of alternately squeezing and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles to strengthen them.  Strengthening those muscles can reduce or cure incontinence.

Kidneys - The kidneys, a part of the urinary tract, are a pair of bean shaped organs in the back of the abdomen that filter excess water, salt and waste products out of the blood.

Pelvic floor muscles - The pelvic floor muscles are located below the bladder and help support it.

Prolapsed bladder - A prolapsed bladder, also known as a dropped bladder or cystocele, is a female urological condition that happens when the wall between the bladder and the vagina weakens and stretches and lets the bladder droop into the vagina; this can cause problems emptying the bladder and stress incontinence.

Urinary incontinence - Urinary incontinence means the bladder is unable to hold urine for as long as needed until it can be released voluntarily.  Incontinence is not a disease in itself, but a symptom of some other problem.
 
Ureters - The ureters, a part of the urinary tract, are two small tubes that carry urine from the kidneys, where it's produced, to the bladder, where it's held until released.  There is one ureter for each kidney.

Urethra - The urethra, a part of the urinary tract, is a tube connected to the bladder at one end and open at the other.  Urine leaves the body by flowing from the bladder out the urethra.

Urinary tract - The urinary tract consists of the organs involved in producing and eliminating urine (liquid waste) from the body: the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

 
 
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