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urethra
(u-re´thrә)
the tubular passage through which urine is discharged from the bladder to the exterior of the body; its external opening is called the urinary meatus. adj., ure´thral., adj.
The female urethra is about 4 cm long; its opening is situated between the clitoris and the opening of the vagina. In women, the sole function
of the urethra is urination. The male urethra is about 20 cm long and is narrower than that of the female. In men the urethra conveys both urine and the secretions of
the reproductive organs and it has three sections: prostatic, membranous, and penile. It extends downward from the bladder and first passes through the prostate, which secretes into it a thin fluid. The membranous portion then receives the secretion of the bulbourethral glands. Next the urethra passes down through the main body of the penis until it reaches the exterior meatus at the tip of the penis. Along the entire length of the urethra are mucous glands.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
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