Which tube connects the bladder to the outside world?

• A. Urethra
• B. Cortex
• C. Renal hilum
• D. Glomerulus

Answer: (A)

The tube that connects the bladder to the outside world is the urethra. It carries urine from the bladder and expels it through the external opening during urination. The other structures have different roles in the urinary system: the cortex is the kidney tissue where filtration and processing of blood occur; the renal hilum is the entry and exit point for vessels and the connection where the ureter meets the kidney; and the glomerulus is the small network of capillaries inside the nephron where filtration begins. The ureter, while it transports urine from the kidney to the bladder, does not lead to the outside, so it is not the tube that connects the bladder to the exterior.