Urethra Definition
The urethra is a tube that drains urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. It is about 8 inches long for men and 1.5 inches long for women. It has three parts: the urethral opening, the urethral canal, and the urethral sphincter. The urethral sphincter is a muscle that controls the flow of urine. It is lined with mucous membranes, which are sensitive to irritation and infection.
It is the passageway for urine to exit the body. It is also the site of ejaculation for men. It is located in the pelvis, the area between the hips. In men, It starts at the base of the penis and goes through the prostate gland to the outside of the body. In women, It starts at the bladder and goes to the urethral opening, which is between the clitoris and vaginal opening.
Anatomy bladder male
Anatomy of the male urinary system showing the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The urinary bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine. Urine is produced by the kidneys and travels down the ureters to the bladder. The bladder is located in the pelvis, the area between the hips. It is the passageway for urine to exit the body. It is in the pelvis, just below the bladder.Urethra Photographs are shown bellow:
Urethra Structure
The urethral opening is the point where urine exits the person. The urethral canal is the passageway that connects the bladder to the urethral opening. The urethral sphincter is a muscle that controls the flow of urine. The sphincter is located at the junction of the urethral canal and urethral opening.
It is lined with mucous membranes, which are sensitive to irritation and infection. The mucous membranes produce a clear, slippery fluid that lubricates the urethral part and helps to protect it from infection.
The urethral opening is surrounded by tissue called the urethral orifice. The urethral orifice is the opening of the urethra. It is located between the glans penis and the body of the penis in men, and between the clitoris and vaginal opening in women.
What are Urethra Functions?
The urethra has several important functions:
- It drains urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
- It is the site of ejaculation for men.
- It helps to keep the urinary tract clean by flushing out bacteria and other debris.
- It provides lubrication for the urinary tract.
- It helps to regulate the pH of urine.
- It helps to concentrate urine by reabsorbing water and other solutes.
- It helps to prevent the backflow of urine into the kidneys.
- It helps to regulate blood pressure by controlling the release of urine.
- It helps to maintain the electrolyte balance in the body by regulating the release of urine.
Urethral Sphincter Control
The urethral sphincter is a muscle that controls the flow of urine. The sphincter is located at the junction of the urethral canal and urethral opening. The sphincter is controlled by the nervous system and can be opened and closed voluntarily. When the sphincter is closed, urine is stored in the bladder. When the sphincter is opened, urine flows from the bladder out of the body.
The urethral sphincter is important for regulating urinary continence. Urinary continence is the ability to hold urine in the bladder until it is convenient to release it.
Female Urethra
It is a short, thin tube that connects the bladder to the external opening of the urethra. The urethral opening is located between the clitoris and vaginal opening. The female urethral part is about 1-2 inches long. The diameter of the urethral opening is about 0.4 inches.
It is lined with mucous membranes, which are sensitive to irritation and infection. The mucous membranes produce a clear, slippery fluid that lubricates the urethral area and helps to protect it from infection. The urethra female diagram is labeled below:
Male Urethra
It is a long, thin tube that connects the bladder to the external opening of the urethra. The urethral opening is at the tip of the penis. The male urethral part is about 8 inches long. The diameter of the urethral opening is about 0.4 inches.
The male urethral part is divided into three sections: the proximal urethra, the membranous urethra, and the distal urethra.
- The proximal urethral part is the section of the urethra that connects to the bladder.
- The membranous urethral part is a short section of the urethra that passes through the pelvic floor muscles.
- The distal urethral part is the longest section of the urethra and it passes through the penis.
The male urethral part is lined with mucous membranes, which are sensitive to irritation and infection. The mucous membranes produce a clear, slippery fluid that lubricates the urethra and helps to protect it from infection.
Urethra Pain
Urethral pain is caused by various factors. Urolithiasis, or the formation of stones in the urinary tract, can cause pain in the urethra. The stones can block the flow of urine and cause inflammation and infection.
In men, prostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate gland, can cause pain in the urethra. The prostate is a gland that surrounds the urethral opening. An infection can cause prostatitis or by other conditions, such as enlarged prostate. In women, a urinary tract infection can cause pain in the urethra. The infection can spread from the bladder to the urethral part and cause inflammation.
Sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, can also cause pain in the urethra. These infections are often accompanied by other symptoms, such as burning during urination, discharge from the urethra, and pain during intercourse.
Injury to the urethral part can also cause pain. The urethra; part is a sensitive structure and it can be injured by trauma or surgery. Injury to the urethral area can also occur during childbirth.
Urethritis, or inflammation of the urethra, is another common cause of urethral pain. Urethritis can be caused by infection, injury, or irritation. The most common symptom of urethritis is burning during urination. Other symptoms include pain during intercourse, discharge from the urethra, and urgency and frequency of urination.
Urethra Disorder Treatments
The treatment for urethral pain depends on the underlying cause. Stones in the urinary tract can be treated with surgery or lithotripsy, which is a procedure that uses sound waves to break up the stones.
Prostatitis can be treated with antibiotics. The prostate gland can also be removed surgically.
Urinary tract infections are treated with antibiotics. If the infection is severe, hospitalization may be necessary so that the infection can be treated intravenously with antibiotics.
Sexually transmitted infections are treated with antibiotics.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be cured with a single dose of antibiotic. Other sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes, cannot be cured but can be managed with medication.
Injury to the urethral area can be treated with surgery. The type of surgery depends on the severity of the injury.
Urethritis is treated with antibiotics. If the urethral part is injured, surgery may be necessary to repair the damage.
Prevention of Urethra infection
There are several things that can be done to prevent urethral pain. Drinking plenty of fluids helps to dilute the urine and reduce the risk of stones forming in the urinary tract. Proper hygiene can help to prevent infection. Wiping from front to back after using the toilet helps to keep bacteria from spreading from the anus to the urethra.
Condoms can help to prevent sexually transmitted infections. Urinary tract infections can be prevented by drinking plenty of water.
