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In anatomy, the urethra (from Greekοὐρήθρα - ourethra) is a tube which connects the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. The urethra has an excretory function in both sexes to pass urine to the outside, and also a reproductive function in the male, as a passage for semen.
In the human female, the urethra is about 1+1/2–2 inches (2–5 cm) long and opens between the clitoris and the vaginal opening, extending from the internal to the external urethral orifice. It is placed behind the symphysis pubis, embedded in the anterior wall of the vagina, and its direction is obliquely downward and forward; it is slightly curved with the concavity directed forward. Its lining is composed of stratified squamous epithelium, which becomes transitional near the bladder. The urethra consists of three coats: muscular, erectile, and mucous, the muscular layer being a continuation of that of the bladder. Between the superior and inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm, the female urethra is surrounded by the Sphincter urethae. Somatic innervation of the external urethral sphincter is supplied by the pudendal nerve. The uro-genital sinus may be divided into three component parts. The first of these is the cranial portion which is continuous with the allantois and forms the bladder proper. The pelvic part of the sinus forms the prostatic urethra and epithelium as well as the membranous urethra and bulbo urethral glands in the male and the membranous urethra and part of the vagina in females. The area above and on both sides of the female urethra is thought by some to be sexually sensitive and is sometimes referred to as the U-spot or Urethral Erogenous Zone.
Male urethra
In the human male, the urethra is about 8 inches (20 cm) long and opens at the end of the penis. The inside of the urethra has a spiral groove (like rifling in a gun barrel), which makes the urine flow in a wide stream. The urethra provides an exit for urine and semen.
The urethra is divided into four parts in men, named after the location:
Runs along the length of the penis on its ventral (underneath) surface. It is about 15–16 cm in length, and travels through the corpus spongiosum. The ducts from the urethral gland (gland of Littre) enter here. Some textbooks will subdivide the spongy urethra into two parts, the bulbous and pendulous urethra.
The length of a male's urethra, and the fact it contains a prominent bend, makes catheterization more difficult. The integrity of the urethra can be deteremined by a procedure known as retrograde urethrogram.
There are small mucus-secreting urethral glands, that help protect the epithelium from the corrosive urine.
Medical problems 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).
Endoscopy of the bladder via the urethra is called cystoscopy.
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]
Sexual physiology
The male urethra is the conduit for semen during sexual intercourse. It also serves as a passage for urine to flow.
