Which of the following describes the bladder's role in the urinary system?

The bladder serves a crucial function in the urinary system by acting as the storage reservoir for urine. After urine is produced by the kidneys through the filtration of blood, it travels to the bladder via the ureters. The bladder's muscular walls allow it to expand as it fills with urine and contract when the time comes to empty it. This storage capability is essential, as it allows the body to control urinary retention and release based on circumstances, only expelling urine at convenient times. Understanding this function helps clarify why the bladder's primary role is not to produce, filter, or transport urine, but rather to temporarily hold it until it can be safely eliminated from the body.