Male urethra
Male Urethra
The Male Urethra (pronounced: yoo-REE-thruh) is a vital part of the male urinary system and reproductive system.
Etymology
The term 'urethra' is derived from the Ancient Greek οὐρήθρα (ourḗthra), itself from οὖρον (oûron), meaning "urine".
Definition
The male urethra is a narrow fibromuscular tube that conducts urine and semen from the bladder and ejaculatory ducts respectively, to the exterior of the body.
Anatomy
The male urethra extends from the internal urethral orifice of the bladder to the external urethral orifice at the tip of the penis. It is approximately 20 cm long and is divided into four parts: the preprostatic urethra, the prostatic urethra, the membranous urethra, and the spongy or penile urethra.
Preprostatic Urethra
The preprostatic urethra is the intramural segment of the urethra that extends from the internal urethral orifice to the prostate gland.
Prostatic Urethra
The prostatic urethra is the portion of the urethra that traverses the prostate gland. It is the widest and most dilatable part of the male urethra.
Membranous Urethra
The membranous urethra is the shortest, least dilatable, and most vulnerable part of the urethra. It extends from the apex of the prostate to the bulb of the penis.
Spongy or Penile Urethra
The spongy or penile urethra is the longest part of the urethra. It extends from the bulb of the penis to the external urethral orifice.
Function
The primary function of the male urethra is to expel urine from the bladder. In addition, it serves as a conduit for semen during sexual intercourse.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Male urethra
- Wikipedia's article - Male urethra
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