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1. URETHRA
• A tubular structure
emerging from the neck of
bladder and opens to the
exterior
• It is outlet of bladder &
eliminates urine to outside
• Present in both male &
female but there are some
differences b/w the two

2. difference
Male urethra
1 Long
2 Length= 18- 20 cm
3 Function—
i) urination
ii) ejaculation of semen
4 Course– curved
Female urethra
1 Short,,
2 Length= 4 cm
3 Function—only urination
4 Course– nearly straight

3. Male urethra
• It is 18-20 cm in length
Extension :-
internal urethral orifice
(in bladder at apex of trigone )
to
external urethral orifice(meatus)
[ at the tip of glans penis]

4. PARTS OF URETHRA
• Two parts—
• 1] Posterior urethra (proximal urethra)
• 2] Anterior urethra (distal urethra)

5. PARTS OF URETHRA……
1] Posterior urethra
(proximal urethra)- near
to bladder
i) 4cm in length
ii) Lies in the pelvis
iii) It has 3 parts-----
a) pre-prostatic part—b/w
bladder & prostate
b) prostatic part—within
prostate
c) membranous part–
through perineal
membrane

6. PARTS OF URETHRA……
2] Anterior urethra (distal
urethra)---
i) 16 cm long
i) Lies in perineum &
penis
ii) It has 2 parts--
a) bulbar urethra–
within bulb of penis
b)penile/pendulus
urethra/spongy urethra –
--within body of penis

7. SPHINCTERS OF URETHRA
• TWO—
1 internal urethral
sphincter—
---is involuntary
----surrounds internal
urethral orifice &
preprostatic urethra
2 external urethral
sphincter–
--- is voluntary
---surrounds
membranous urethra

8. Arterial supply
1) urethral artery– br. of internal pudendal
artery
2) dorsal artery of penis- br. of internal
pudendal artery
Venous drainage---
1) Anterior urethra—drained by dorsal vein of
penis----internal pudendal vein--- prostatic
venous plexus
2)Posterior urethra— drained by prostatic and
vesicle -venous plexus-----internal iliac veins
veins corresponds to arteries & drain into
internal iliac vein.

9. Lymphatic drainage
i)prostatic urethra---- internal iliac LN
ii)membranous urethra---- internal iliac LN
iii) anterior urethra--& glans ---deep inguinal LN
Nerve supply— by autonomic nerve mainly
i-sympathetic fibres from superior hypogastric
plexus [L1-L2segment]
ii-parasympathetic fibres-S2 to S4 sp. Segments
iii-somatic fibres from pudendal nerves
Source of development— vesicourethral canal of
primitive urogenital sinus

10. applied
1-Urethritis– infection & inflammation of urethra
--N.gonorrhoea
2 Rupture of urethra–
------due to injury by
a fall astride/straddle
*fall astride= fall on surface keeping legs apart so that injury goes
to perineum

11. • Hypospadias—urethra
opens at under
surface(ventral)of penis
• Epispadias– urethra
opens on the dorsum
of penis

12. FEMALE URETHRA
• It is 4cm long & 6mm in width
• Homologous to prostatic urethra
• It begins from internal urethral orifice
and passes downwards & forwards
• Opens in the vestibule b/w clitoris &
vaginal orifice
• Ext. urethral opening lies 2.5 cm
behind the glans clitoris
*clitoris = homologous organ to penis

13. Sphincter of female urethra
• It has also internal &
external urethral
sphincter

14. Glands around the female urethra
• These glands open in female urethra—
1 Urethral or periurethral aka littre gland glands–
tubular mucous glands
2 para-urethral glands== corresponds to
prostate
3 greater vestibular glands—are compd. recemose
glands situated behind the bulb of vestibule in
the superficial perineal pouch.

15. Applied anatomy
• The catheterization of urethra is much easier
in the females than in the males .

16. Arterial supply
i) superiorvesical artery
ii) vaginal artery
• Venous drainage—
--- Through vesical venous plexus into internal
pudendal vein
• Lymphatic drainage—
---Internal and external iliac lymph node
• Nerve supply—
---By sympathetic,, parasympathetic & somatic
narve fibres
Applied– urethritis ,, rupture of urethra d/t injury

17. Thank you!!