US Medical Term · anatomy
Bladder
Vejiga
Also: Vejiga urinaria (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Bladder |
| Spanish (Español) | Vejiga |
| Chinese (中文) | 膀胱 |
| Korean (한국어) | 방광 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Bàng quang |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Pantog |
| Portuguese (Português) | Bexiga |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | กระเพาะปัสสาวะ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 膀胱 |
What it means
The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ in your lower abdomen that stores urine produced by the kidneys. When full, it stretches to hold roughly one to two cups of urine. When you urinate, the muscles of the bladder wall contract and push urine out through the urethra. Common bladder problems include urinary tract infections, which cause burning and frequent urination, overactive bladder, incontinence (leaking urine), and bladder stones or tumors. If you notice blood in your urine, pain when urinating, or frequent urgent trips to the bathroom, you should let your doctor know. A urinalysis and imaging can help diagnose bladder conditions.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I feel like I need to urinate all the time but very little comes out — could it be my bladder?
Siento que necesito orinar todo el tiempo pero solo sale muy poco — ¿podría ser la vejiga?
I noticed blood in my urine and the doctor wants to check my bladder.
Noté sangre en la orina y el médico quiere revisar la vejiga.
I have trouble holding my urine — my doctor said it may be an overactive bladder.
Tengo dificultad para contener la orina — el médico dijo que puede ser vejiga hiperactiva.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026