Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

A supra-pubic catheter enters the urinary bladder through which structure?

1. Abdominal pelvic wall

2. Ureters

3. Urethra

4. Vagina

The correct answer is: Abdominal pelvic wall

A supra-pubic catheter is specifically designed to be inserted directly into the urinary bladder through the abdominal wall. This is typically performed when there is a need for urinary drainage that circumvents the urethra, either due to obstructions, injuries, or conditions that prevent normal urination. The insertion point is just above the pubic bone, hence the term "supra-pubic." The other structures listed do not serve as an entry point for a supra-pubic catheter. The ureters are responsible for transporting urine from the kidneys to the bladder, the urethra is the tube through which urine exits the body, and the vagina is part of the female reproductive system. None of these pathways are involved in the placement of a supra-pubic catheter into the bladder itself.