Urethra
The urethra (pl.: urethras or urethrae) is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the urinary meatus for the removal of urine from the body of both female and male mammals. In female humans and other primates, the urethra connects to the urinary meatus above the vagina.
| Urethra | |
|---|---|
The urethra transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. This image shows (a) a human female urethra and (b) a human male urethra. | |
| Details | |
| Precursor | Urogenital sinus |
| Artery | Inferior vesical artery Middle rectal artery Internal pudendal artery |
| Vein | Inferior vesical vein Middle rectal vein Internal pudendal vein |
| Nerve | Pudendal nerve Pelvic splanchnic nerves Inferior hypogastric plexus |
| Lymph | Internal iliac lymph nodes Deep inguinal lymph nodes |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | urethra vagina; feminina (female); urethra masculina (male) |
| Greek | οὐρήθρα |
| MeSH | D014521 |
| TA98 | A08.4.01.001F A08.5.01.001M |
| TA2 | 3426, 3442 |
| FMA | 19667 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Females use their urethra only for urinating, but males use their urethra for both urination and ejaculation. The external urethral sphincter is a striated muscle that allows voluntary control over urination. The internal sphincter, formed by the involuntary smooth muscles lining the bladder neck and urethra, receives its nerve supply by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. The internal sphincter is present both in males and females.
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