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Definition of Urethra

The urethra, located below the urinary bladder in men and women, is a thin tube that allows people to pass urine out of the body. It helps remove waste produced by the kidneys' filtering process when cleaning the blood. For men, the urethra also serves a role in sexual intercourse, helping sexual fluids flow out of the penis.

  1. Description

    • According to MedicaLook, the urethra is a long tube made out of smooth muscle fibers, which are surrounded by muscle fibers. Urethra glands are located inside the urethra, which produces mucous that coats the entire urethra.

    Location

    • The urethra starts at the opening of the urinary bladder and runs downward to an opening in the genitals. In women, the opening is located below the clitoris and above the vagina. In men, the opening is located at the tip of the penis.

    Job

    • The urethra transports waste, also referred to as urine, from the urinary bladder to the opening in the genitals. Both men and women relieve urine from the body through this process. The urethra also transports semen out of the penis for men during sexual intercourse.

    Types

    • In women, the urethra is straight, measuring approximately 4 cm in length. Men have a longer urethra shaped like a S, stretching 20 cm in length. It is shaped like a S to fit the curves of the penis.

      For men, the urethra is also segmented into three parts. The first part, which starts at the urinary bladder, goes through the prostrate gland. The second portion goes through the pelvic floor and into the beginning portion of the penis. The last portion extends through the length of the penis and ends at its tip.

    Problems

    • According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, the urethra is prone to developing several conditions, including urethral strictures, urethral infections, urethral diverticulum and urethral cancer. Urethral strictures, or the narrowing of the urethra, is caused if the urethra becomes inflamed or injured, which makes it painful to urinate. Bacteria can also infect the urethra, causing urethral infections.

      Urethral diverticulum is a condition that causes the urethra to enlarge like a pouch, making the area surrounding it bulge out. Urethral cancer is rare cancer that affects the urethra and surrounding bladder but tends to occur in more women than men, according to UrologyChannel.com.

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