Urinary incontinence: how the bladder works

On average, about 1–2 liters (2–3.5 pints) of urine are produced by the kidneys every day.
Most people do not feel an urge to pass urine until there is about 150–200 mL (about a quarter of a pint) in the bladder.
The normal adult bladder can hold a little less than 500 mL (1 pint or 16 ounces) of urine.

To see what the female and male urinary tracts look like, go to:

Patient Pictures: Female urinary tract Patient Pictures: Male urinary tract

The two kidneys (one on each side) are located behind your 13th rib. They make urine from fluids and dissolved waste matter in the blood. Each day, the kidneys empty about 1.5 liters (3 pints) of urine into the bladder. The wall of the bladder is made of muscle that stretches like a balloon as it fills with urine.

When the bladder contains about 250 mL (½ pint or 8 ounces) of urine, it sends signals to the brain that you need to urinate soon. When it is convenient to do so, the bladder muscle stops stretching and begins to contract, squeezing the urine out. At the same time, the bladder and pelvic floor muscles relax, allowing the urine to come out. The urine then passes down a tube, called the urethra, to the outside. In women, the urethra is short. In men, the urethra is long; it passes through the prostate gland, and then along the penis to the hole at the end.

A ring of muscle, called the internal sphincter, at the neck or base of the bladder acts like a tap, keeping the urine in. Below this sphincter is a second one, called the external sphincter. You control this sphincter by controlling the pelvic floor muscles that surround it. The pelvic floor muscles are like the trampoline that stretches from the pelvic bone in the front to the backbone or tailbone. Imagine a springy trampoline with tubes passing through it – three tubes in women, but only two in men.

In women, the three tubes passing through the pelvic floor muscle are the rectum and its opening (the anus), the vagina and the urethra. The bladder and womb (uterus) lie on top of the pelvic floor.
In men, the two tubes passing through the pelvic floor muscle are the rectum and its opening (the anus), and the urethra. These muscles surround the prostate.

Age-related changes in the kidneys and bladder

Although urinary incontinence is not a normal part of aging, there are several age-related changes that can occur in your kidneys and bladder:

The kidneys make the largest amount of urine during the night when you are lying flat. This may cause you to wake often at night to urinate (called nocturia).
Your bladder holds less urine than when you were younger, so you may urinate more frequently.
You may not empty your bladder completely and may find that you need to urinate more often.
Bladder sensation changes with age, which delays the desire to urinate and decreases the ‘warning’ time (the time between the first urge to urinate and actually urinating).
Involuntary bladder contractions can occur when someone changes position (e.g. bends over), causing overactive bladder symptoms. Combined with the delayed desire to urinate, this often results in urinary urgency and frequency urinary incontinence.
The quantity of urine left in the bladder after urinating (post-void residual volume) increases. An intermediate range of 50–100 mL is normal, but regular post-void residual volumes of 100–200 mL or higher is considered inadequate bladder emptying. Combined with the bladder holding less urine, this will cause you to urinate more often.

Written by: Diane Newman
Edited by: Diane Newman
Last updated: Thursday, November 8th 2012

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Comments on this article

Posted by Janet on 07/04/2009 at 04:23

I have had this sensation of having to urinate, but I don't.....I worry about it being a UTI, although it isn't showing, could it be stress and worry, causing me to feel the urge of urinating...I am at a loss

Posted by Anonymous on 19/02/2009 at 01:51

This website was very helpful to me. I am working on an 8th Grade school project and I got the majority of my information from this page. Thanks!! xoxo

Posted by Anonymous on 05/02/2009 at 03:11

I am 36yrs old female. I am having frequent urination after having sexual intercourse. There is no pain. I got tested for urinary infection. It is not present. What is the cause of this.