Urethral crest
The male urethra laid open on its anterior (upper) surface. (Urethral crest labeled at upper right.)
Latin	crista urethralis urethrae masculinae, crista urethralis urethrae femininae
Gray's	subject #256 1234

The urethal crest is an anatomical feature present in the urinary system of both males and females.

In males, the urethral crest is known as the crista urethralis masculinae, or the crista phallica, and is a longitudinal fold on the posterior wall of the urethra extending from the uvula of the bladder through the prostatic urethra..^[1] It is from 15 to 17 mm. in length, and about 3 mm. in height, and contains muscular and erectile tissue. When distended, it may serve to prevent the passage of the semen backward into the bladder.^[2]

In females, it is known as the crista urethralis femininae, and is a conspicuous longitudinal fold of mucosa on the posterior wall of the urethra.^[3]

[edit] Additional images

Vesiculæ seminales and ampullæ of ductus deferentes, seen from the front.

[edit] External links

• SUNY Labs 44:st-2200 - "The Male Pelvis: Urethral crest"
• pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (malebladder)
• Human anatomy at Dartmouth figures/chapter_34/34-3.HTM

[edit] References

1. ^ Crista urethralis masculinae - definition from Biology-Online.org
2. ^ The Male Urethra - Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body - Yahoo! Education
3. ^ Crista urethralis femininae - definition from Biology-Online.org

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