Final answer:
Another term for bladder distension is urinary retention. It's a condition where the bladder doesn't empty properly, leading to its distension. Urinary retention is not synonymous with urinary incontinence, urgency, or frequency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for bladder distension is often urinary retention. This is when the bladder is unable to empty properly, causing it to become distended with urine. It differs from urinary incontinence, which is the involuntary loss of urine, and from urinary urgency which is the sudden, compelling need to urinate. Urinary frequency is the need to urinate more often than usual and is not directly related to bladder distension.
The bladder is a highly distensible organ comprised of the detrusor muscle, which handles the large volume fluctuations as the bladder fills. Bladder distension can occur for various reasons, including obstruction or neurological issues affecting the micturition reflex, the process governing urination.
Bladder pressure steadily increases as the bladder fills, triggering the micturition reflex. However, excessive distension can cause discomfort and lead to potential complications such as urine being forced back into the kidneys, which can cause damage. Hence, awareness and management of bladder distension are important aspects of urinary health.