Question

he mucosal folds in the bladder (rugae): select an answer and submit. for keyboard navigation, use the up/down arrow keys to select an answer. a act to increase the surface area for absorption. b thicken the bladder wall so that it does not burst. c are not present in life, only in cadavers. d have the same basic function as transitional epithelium

Answer 1

The transitional epithelium of the bladder unfolds and becomes thinner as the bladder fills with urine, allowing it to accommodate increasing volumes without a significant increase in internal pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mucosal folds in the bladder, known as rugae, serve an important function in accommodating urinary volume changes. The transitional epithelium that lines the bladder can transition from a piled-up appearance when the bladder is empty to a flatter and thinner arrangement as the bladder fills with urine. This process is vital for the bladder's capability to expand and hold increasing volumes without a significant increase in internal pressure.

When the bladder is empty, the transitional epithelium resembles columnar epithelia, with the cells appearing to be stacked on top of one another due to the folds. As the bladder fills and stretches, these cells change their arrangement, giving the epithelium a more squamous appearance, thus reducing the thickness of the bladder wall.

Therefore, when predicting what happens to the transitional cells as the bladder fills with urine:

The epithelial lining unfolds and becomes thinner.

This ability to transition allows the bladder to accommodate different amounts of urine, up to 500-600 mL in adults, without compromising its integrity or function.