Where does a urinary catheter typically go?

A urinary catheter is a flexible tube that is inserted into the bladder to drain urine. This procedure is performed for various medical reasons such as to relieve urinary retention, collect urine for testing, or monitor urinary output in patients who are unable to do so themselves. The primary function of a catheter is to provide access to the bladder, which is the organ responsible for storing urine until it is expelled from the body.

While the urethra is the passage through which urine exits the body and is part of the urinary system, the catheter itself is positioned within the bladder to facilitate urine drainage. Insertion into the kidney or the bowel does not align with the purpose of the urinary catheter, which is specifically designed for use within the bladder. Thus, the bladder is the correct destination for a urinary catheter, confirming that the answer provided is accurate.