Three-Dimensional Arrangement of Collagen and Elastin Fibers in the Human Urinary Bladder: A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study

Abstract

To clarify the arrangements of collagen and elastin fibers of the urinary bladder, we examined 9 human (male, aged 42 to 72) urinary bladders by scanning electron microscopy with chemical digestion methods. The mucosal layer was divided into 3 portions according to the collagen arrangement: the superficial portion interwoven densely by collagen fibrils, the middle portion layered by flat bundles of collagen fibrils and the deep portion made of a loose network of twisted collagen bundles. In the muscular layer, the smooth muscle fascicles were firmly covered with collagen sheets, while each muscle cell in a fascicle was accommodated by a thin sheath of collagen fibrils. The serosal layer consists of wavy collagen bundles piled up in a sheet, which was intercalated by clusters of adipose cells. Elastic fibers were, on the other hand, sparse throughout the bladder wall, except for denser networks around the blood vessels and muscle fascicles and beneath the peritoneal mesothelium. The arrangements of these components were discussed in relation to the mechanical function and compliance of the urinary bladder.

Immunohistochemical Localization of Elastic System Fibres in the Canine Prostate

“…Previous studies have suggested that elastic tissue is a normal component in the genito-urinary region [1,11]. Our results showed that the capsule of the dog prostate contain a large number of elastic membranes of different thicknesses forming one thick layer and partially integrated in the muscle layer of the capsule.…”

“…The fibres were seen to be associated with the longitudinal smooth muscle bundles of the urethra and urinary bladder of the guinea pig [10,11]. D a s s e t al.…”

“…[2]. M u r a k u m o et al [11] in their scanning electron microscopic study,observed three dimensional arrangement of collagen and elastin fibres in the human urinary bladder.…”

Factores pronósticos del tratamiento endoscópico del reflujo vesicoureteral en pacientes con lesión medular

“…en la mucosa en tres capas: una capa superficial de fibras no orientadas que forma un entretejido denso en el que se apoya el urotelio, una capa media de fibras delicadamente entrelazadas y apiladas de diverso grosor y una capa profunda constituida por una delicada red de fibras retorcidas 13 .…”

Optical assessment of tissue anisotropy in <italic>ex vivo</italic> distended rat bladders

“…Therefore, this missing organizational information about bladder wall morphology and microstructure is acquired from thin samples using optical microscopy techniques. 10,12 Polarized light imaging in bulk intact tissues is beginning to be used for quantitative assessment of morphology in biological tissues. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] When the tissue polarimetric properties are properly decoupled with the help of polarization data analysis technique known as polar Mueller matrix decomposition, 21,22 a particular parameter known as retardance emerges.…”