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Urethra
Female anatomy. (Urethra labeled at bottom left.)
Male anatomy. (Urethra opening labeled at bottom left, the bulbo-urethral gland at the base of the penis.)
Latin	Female urethra: urethra feminina Male urethra: urethra masculina
Gray's	subject #256 1234
Precursor	Urogenital sinus
MeSH	urethra
Dorlands/Elsevier	Urethra

In anatomy, the urethra (from Greek οὐρήθρα - ourethra) is a tube which connects the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine. In females, the urethra is shorter and emerges above the vaginal opening.

The external urethral sphincter is a striated muscle that allows voluntary control over urination.

[edit] Medical problems of the urethra

Micrograph of urethral cancer (urothelial cell carcinoma), a rare problem of the urethra.

• Hypospadias and epispadias are forms of abnormal development of the urethra in the male, where the meatus is not located at the distal end of the penis (it occurs lower than normal with hypospadias, and higher with epispadias). In a severe chordee, the urethra can develop between the penis and the scrotum.
• Infection of the urethra is urethritis, said to be more common in females than males. Urethritis is a common cause of dysuria (pain when urinating).
• Related to urethritis is so called urethral syndrome
• Passage of kidney stones through the urethra can be painful and subsequently it can lead to urethral strictures.
• Cancer of the urethra.
  Main article: urethral cancer
• Foreign bodies in the urethra are uncommon, but there have been medical case reports of self-inflicted injuries, a result of insertion of foreign bodies into the urethra such as an electrical wire.^[1]

[edit] Investigations

• Endoscopy of the bladder via the urethra is called cystoscopy.
• Urine cytology.

[edit] Sexual physiology

The male urethra is the conduit for semen during sexual intercourse. It also serves as a passage for urine to flow.

[edit] Additional images

Urinary system	Urinary system	Muscles of the female perineum.	Transverse section of the penis.
Vaginal opening - english description.jpg The place of the urethral opening in women.	Penis Close-Up2.JPG The place of the urethral opening in men.

[edit] See also

• Perineal urethra
• Vulvovaginal health
• Urethral sponge
• G-spot
• Urethral sounding
• Urethrotomy
• Internal urethral orifice

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Histology at KUMC epithel-epith07 "Male Urethra"