urethra

The fibromuscular tubular canal through which urine is discharged from the bladder to the exterior via the external urinary meatus; in males, the urethra is joined by the ejaculatory ducts and serves as a passageway for semen during ejaculation, as well as a canal for urine during voiding; in females, the urethra is shorter and emerges above the vaginal opening.

Type Muscle
Système corporel Urinary
Structure parente organ
FMA ID 19667

Sous-structures

male urethra Organ female urethra Organ

Questions fréquentes

How does the urethra differ between males and females?
The female urethra is approximately 3–4 cm long, runs from the bladder neck to the external urethral meatus (in the vestibule of the vulva), and carries only urine. The male urethra is approximately 20 cm long and is divided into four sections: prostatic (passing through the prostate), membranous (through the external sphincter), bulbous, and penile (spongy). The male urethra serves dual functions — conveying urine and, during ejaculation, semen.
What sphincters control urethral flow?
Two sphincters regulate urinary flow through the urethra. The internal urethral sphincter is formed by smooth muscle at the bladder neck and is under involuntary (autonomic) control — it automatically closes to maintain continence. The external urethral sphincter is composed of striated skeletal muscle surrounding the urethra and is under voluntary control, allowing conscious delay of urination.
What conditions commonly affect the urethra?
Urethritis — inflammation of the urethra — is most commonly caused by sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis). Urethral strictures (scarring that narrows the lumen) cause obstructed flow. In older men, benign prostatic hyperplasia compresses the prostatic urethra, causing lower urinary tract symptoms. Urethral injuries can occur with pelvic fractures or catheterization trauma.

Structures associées

primitive urogenital sinus fetal UGS prostate field prostate primordium renal pelvis kidney pelvis renal pelvis/ureter renal pelvis and ureter renal tubule renal tubule (generic) allantois of embryonic urinary system allantois cloacal membrane embryonic cloacal membrane basal cell layer of urothelium basal cell layer of uroepithelium

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Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.