Urethra

Embryologic development of
urethra

Embryology
The posterior male urethra forms from the
urogenital sinus ( ENDODERMAL)
The most distal portion of the urethra is
likely formed by invagination of an epithelial
tag at the distal end of the genital tubercle
(ECTODERMAL)
The influence of dihydrotestosterone

Embryology

Embryology

Anatomy : Male Urethra

Roughly 15-25 cm
long in the adult

Forms an "S" curve

when viewed from a
median sagittal
plane in an upright

Anatomy : Male Urethra

The male urethra

divided into 3
segments on the basis
of its investing
structures:
prostatic urethra
membranous urethra
spongy (or penile)
urethra. Further divided
into bulbas , pendulus
and fossa navicularis

Prostatic urethra

traverses the prostate

bladder neck : :
membranous urethra
roughly 2.5 cm
retropubic location and is
bordered superiorly by the
bladder and supported
inferiorly by the sphincter
urethrae externus muscle
and the perineal
membrane

Prostatic urethra
The urethra forms an
angle of 45 (range, 090 ) at the midpoint of
the prostatic urethra
Angle divides proximal
half and distal half
Proximal half this
location is surrounded
by the involuntary
internal sphincter and
area mostly affected in
BPH

Prostatic urethra :
Intraluminal

Posterior wall contains the

urethral crest, bordered laterally
by prostatic sinuses, into which
the prostatic glands drain.
The most prominent aspect of
this crest is the seminal
colliculus, or verumontanum,
where the paired ejaculatory
ducts and the opening of the
prostatic utricle (a small midline
paramesonephric duct remnant)
meet the lumen of the urethra.
The seminal colliculus :
urethroscopy and transurethral
surgery

Membranous urethra
shortest and least
distensible portion
the apex of the
prostate : : bulb of
the penis
invested in the
external urethral
sphincter muscle
and the perineal
membrane

Membranous urethra

the puboprostatic ligaments and the

suspensory ligament of the penis

external urethral sphincter muscle and the

perineal membrane fix the urethra firmly to
the ischial rami and inferior pubic rami

Spongy urethra

the region that spans

the corpus spongiosum
of the penis
divided into the
pendulous urethra and
the bulbous (or bulbar)
urethra
& the fossa navicularis,
a small dilation of the
urethra just proximal to
the urethral meatus

Spongy urethra

Bulbourethral (Cowper) glands located in

the external urethral sphincter muscle ;
ducts empty into the bulbous urethra

Vasculature and lymphatic

drainage

prostatic urethra :: inferior vesical artery

Membranous ,bulbar urethra:: bulbourethral artery
pendulous urethra :: deep penile artery (branch
of the internal pudendal artery)

venous drainage mirrors the arterial supply

prostatic and membranous urethra drain to the

obturator and internal iliac nodes.
spongy urethra drains to the deep and superficial
inguinal nodes

Microscopic Anatomy

transitions from the

urothelium of the
bladder to the
keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium of
the glans
distinct longitudinal folds
that protrude into its
lumen
rich vascular submucosa
especially in the
membranous urethra

Microscopic Anatomy

1.

2.
3.
4.
5.

Peak Uretral Closing Pressure (UCP)

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium : radial
folds
Vascular submucosa with soft connective tissue
Long. and circular smooth muscle (muscularis)
External striated musle spincter
Pubourethral component of levator ani

Female Urethra
4cm length bladder neck to vaginal vestibule
Transition from pseudostratified nonkeratinised to
stratified squamous
Enormous mucous glands open (urethral diverticula)
Distally skene glands : moisten meatus
Thick mucosa and Vascular submucosa : UCP
( oestrogen dependent ; stress incontinence)
Thick longitudinal smooth muscle surronded by thin
circular smooth muscle I/C male (no circular smooth
muscle spincter)
Spincter action by long. smooth muscle with detrusor

Female Urethra

Striated spincter for distal 2/3rd

Supports : suspensory ligaments of clitoris

& pubourethral ligaments

Somatic and autonomic traverse lateral wall

of vagina near urethra : transvaginal
incontinence surgery ant. vaginal wall
inscised laterally to avoid damage