It passes through the shaft of thepenisin males, exiting through the head of the penis.
In females, the opening is situated below theclitorisand above the opening of thevagina.
The urethra is vulnerable to infections, obstruction, and other medical conditions, including cancer.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
It also explains how many of these conditions are diagnosed and prevented.
Anatomy
The anatomy of the urethra varies between males and females.
These variations occur during early fetal development with the differentiation of male and female sexual organs.
Urethra in Males
The male urethra is between 7 and 8 inches long.
Anatomical Variations
There are several congenital conditions you are born with that can lead to urethral dysfunction.
Many affect males, but some can also occur in females.
These include:
What Does the Urethra Do?
This triggers when the bladder sends signals to the brain, telling it that it is full.
In males, the urethra also transportssemenduringejaculation.
This allows semen to enter the urethra without exposure to urine (which can damagesperm).
Others require diagnosis and treatment from a specialist of the urinary tract known as aurologist.
The urethra is shorter in females and opens between the clitoris and vagina.
Congenital conditions like hypospadias and epispadias can cause malformed or incomplete urethras.
A specialist called a urologist is trained to diagnose and treat these conditions.
National Cancer Institute SEER Training Modules.Urethra.
Teach Me Anatomy.The urethra.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anatomy of the urinary system.
