The urethra allows us to urinate. It is built differently in women than in men. And it is these anatomical differences that can make you more susceptible to certain diseases. Read what parts of the urethra we distinguish, how long is the urethra and what is hypospadias.

The urethrais the last element of the urinary tract. Urine formed in the kidneys goes through the ureters to the bladder, and then, with the participation of a strongly tense sphincter, goes outside through a special tube, i.e. the urethra. The beginning of this tube is at the bottom of the bladder - the inner opening of the urethra. And its ending (external outlet) differs for both sexes. Due to the presence of the reproductive organs, the position of the bladder, size, shape and position of the urethra are different for men and women.

Female urethra

In women, the urethra is 3-6 cm long and the external opening of this tube is located on the nipple located in the so-called the vestibule of the vagina. The female urethra is not only shorter but slightly wider than the male urethra.

The female urethra is divided into the following parts:

  • intramural, running through the bladder wall
  • Miedniczna
  • Diaphragm
  • Sub-diaphragm (outlet in the vestibule of the vagina)

The urethra lies parallel to the anterior vaginal wall. It is sent with a multilayered squamous epithelium, which, together with the connective tissue underlying it, forms the mucosa. Further (towards the outer) there are two layers of smooth muscles: inner - longitudinal and outer - circular. The latter becomes the urethral sphincter (striated muscle). The much shorter length of the female urethra creates more favorable conditions for the development of ascending urinary tract infection compared to the male urethra.

Read:How to Avoid Urinary Tract Infection

Male urethra

The male urethra is much longer than the female urethra - 18-20 cm - and its external opening is at the tip of the penile glans.

In addition to the function of urine drainage, it also acts as a sperm drainage system - it connects to the reproductive system. That is why it is called the urogenital. The male urethra is lined,similarly to the urinary bladder, it has a multi-row cubic epithelium, which passes into a multi-row cylindrical epithelium in further sections. Below there are two layers of muscles: inner - longitudinal and outer - circular. The whole is surrounded by the adventitia (proper connective tissue).

A man's urethra is divided into the following parts:

  • Intra-wall - running through the bladder wall
  • Prostate - running through the prostate gland
  • Membrane - piercing urogenital diaphragm
  • Spongy - running loosely in the perineum under the pubic symphysis, through the spongy body of the penis, flowing out physiologically at the end of the penile glans.

In cases of malformations, eg hypospadias - the spongy part of the urethra emerges on the lower surface of the penis; in the case of eaglets - it flows out on the upper surface of the penis.

Read:Urethral stricture: causes, symptoms, treatment

Category:

Anatomy