When palpating the bladder, what is the expected finding in a healthy adult?

In a healthy adult, the expected finding when palpating the bladder is that it is not palpable when empty. The bladder is a muscular sac that expands as it fills with urine. When empty, the bladder resides within the pelvis and typically cannot be felt during a physical examination. If the bladder is moderately to fully distended, it may become palpable above the pubic symphysis.

This understanding is rooted in normal anatomy and physiology; therefore, when evaluating a patient, the healthcare provider assesses bladder fullness and will only detect its outline when it is sufficiently filled with urine. Palpation techniques can help in identifying bladder distension, which may indicate various conditions, but palpation results should be interpreted with the bladder's current status in mind.