Q64.1: Exstrophy of urinary bladder

Due to a defect, the bladder is lying open in the abdominal wall.

The bladder sits low down in the abdomen and collects the urine. The urine is produced in the two kidneys. The urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters. When you pass water, the urine flows from the bladder via the urethra and out. While developing in the womb, many different types of tissue develop in the body. The organs and body parts develop out of the various types of tissue. If the tissue does not develop properly in the womb, defects can result.

If the front part of the bladder fails to develop, the bladder does not become a spherical cavity. Instead, it forms a flat disc. Moreover, the skin and the layers of muscle in the abdominal wall do not develop properly at the affected site. As a result, the bladder lies uncovered in the abdominal wall. With this defect, the front connection of the two pelvic bones may also be missing. At the front, the pelvic bones are usually attached firmly to one another by ligaments and threads of cartilage. There may also be further defects in the area of the genital organs or urinary organs.

Urine can drain from the open bladder. It can be easier for pathogens to get into the urinary tract via the open bladder.