Urethra - what is it? We will dedicate the article to the presented question. In addition, you will learn about the differences in the structure of this organ in men and women, as well as what diseases can occur, how to treat them.
General information
The urethra is the urethra that connects the bladder to the external environment. The walls of the organ presented inside are covered with mucous membranes. After it are the connecting fibers, as well as the muscular membrane. It should be noted that the urethra in both girls and men has a tube shape. However, its structure is different for representatives of different sexes.
Urethra in women: where is it located?
The urethra in the fairer sex is much shorter, but much wider than the male urethra. As a rule, its length varies between 3-4 centimeters, and the width is approximately 1.4 times greater than the male. The mucous membrane of the urethra forms numerous folds. This organ begins in the form of an internal opening from the bladder. Then the channel passes from top to bottom under the symphysis of the pubis along the front wall of the vagina. It opens with an external hole deep in the genital fissure, or rather, under the clitoris, located between the labia minora (small).
What structure does it have?
Where is the urethra in women? You received the answer to this question. In the same section, I want to talk in detail about what structure the urethra has in the fairer sex.
As you know, the external opening of the urethra is rounded. At the entrance to the vagina, it is surrounded by hard, roller-shaped edges. The channel itself passes strictly parallel to the vagina along its front wall, with which it fuses. It should be especially noted that the lumen of the urethra in women is different throughout. It expands funnel-shaped at the bladder, and then narrows at the external opening. Moreover, the entire channel is literally surrounded by connective tissue, which has a special density in the lower parts of the vagina. The wall of the channel is formed by the mucous membrane and muscle tissue.
Urethral mucosa
The mucous membrane of the urethra is covered with stratified prismatic epithelium, which is flat in some areas and high in some. Thus, the shell forms a series of longitudinal folds. In this regard, the cross section of the channel has the shape of a star.
The highest and largest fold of the urethra is on the back wall and is called the urethra crest. It stretches from the front corner of the bladder to the very end. Gaps are located on the mucous membrane of the urethra, and the so-called mouths of the ducts of the glands of the urethra open in the lower parts of the canal. Near the outlet on both sides there are paraurethral ducts. It is also worth noting that the connective tissue of the urethra has numerous veins and elastic fibers.
Urethral muscle tissue
The muscular membrane of the urethra in women consists of a circular, external, longitudinal and internal layers, as well as a layer of smooth muscles with elastic fibers. In the area of the urogenital diaphragm, its tissues join the circular canal and form the urethral sphincter.
Urethra in men: where is it located?
The male urethra, in contrast to the short female, is about 18-24 centimeters long. In this case, in an erection state, this value increases by a third. The posterior urethra in the representatives of the stronger sex begins from the inner opening and ends at the seminal mound (or before the start of the cavernous body). As for the front channel, it is located distal.
What structure does it have?
Where is the urethra in men? We presented this information a little higher. And now we will talk in detail about the structure of the male urethra.
Conditionally, the urethra of the stronger sex is divided into 3 parts, namely:
- webbed;
- prostate (or prostatic);
- spongy (or spongy, cavernous).
The male urethra throughout its entire length has 2 S-shaped bends: the upper underbody (or subsubic, prostate), which is formed when the membranous part of the canal passes into the cavernous (from top to bottom), enveloping the pubic symphysis from below, and the lower prelane (or the so-called prefrontal ) that occurs when the moving part of the body is in the non-fixed, bending up. If the penis is raised to the abdomen, then both of these bends go into a common one, which is concave forward and slightly upward.
Throughout, the male urethra has a different lumen diameter. So, wide parts alternate with narrower ones. One narrowing is located at the inner opening, the second - in the urogenital diaphragm, and the third - at the exit. By the way, there are also three extensions in the male urethra: in the prostatic region, in the bulbous region and at the very end of the urethra, where the scaphoid fossa is located. As you know, on average, the width of such a channel in representatives of the stronger sex ranges from 4 to 7 millimeters.
Microflora in women
Female urethra, or rather, its normal microflora, may be different depending on age. In adults and healthy women, most microorganisms consist of lactobacilli, as well as saprophytic and epidermal staphylococci. In addition, up to 5% of peptostreptococci and up to 10% of bifidumbacteria are allowed in the urethra. The presented combination of microorganisms in medical practice is called the Doderlein microflora.
Men's microflora
The female urethra is significantly different from the male. And this applies not only to the location of the channel in the body and physical parameters, but also to the microflora. It is worth noting that it remains unchanged throughout the life of men. A few hours after birth, epidermal and saprophytic staphylococci appear in the boys urethra. Moreover, these microorganisms inhabit only the first five external centimeters of the urethra. Further, the urethra is almost sterile.
Urethra - what is it? Now you know the answer to this question. Many are interested in what diseases can arise as a result of various deviations in the functioning of this organ.
Urethral diseases
Diseases of this organ can be associated with the following phenomena:
1. With inflammation in the canal. Urethral inflammation, the treatment of which is reduced to taking antibiotics and other chemotherapy drugs, is quite common in medical practice. Such a disease is called urethritis. It manifests itself in the form of discomfort, burning and pain. As a rule, this disease, which proceeds in an acute form, is combined with colpitis and endocervicitis.
2. With anomalies of the channel itself. This can manifest itself as a lack of posterior (hypospadias) or anterior wall (epispadias). Such deviation should be treated only by surgical intervention.
3. With prolapse of the urethra. This pathology is a strong protrusion of the channel out. In the fairer sex, this disease is most often found in old age. It may be accompanied by a prolapse of the vagina. The causes of the presented deviations are injuries of the muscles of the pelvic floor, including the perineum, during prolonged physical work, as well as delivery operations, prolonged labor, prolonged coughing, severe attempts at constipation, etc. For the treatment of this pathology, circular excision of the prolapsed urethral wall is used.
4. With polyps. The urethral polyp is a small tumor formation, which can only be removed by surgical methods. The causes of this deviation can be chronic inflammatory processes that were caused by any infection, as well as hormonal disruptions and intestinal diseases. In the first stages, the urethral polyp develops without any symptoms, but after a while this disease causes a feeling of discomfort. Diagnose this pathology using an urethroscope.
5. With fibromas, fibroids, and angiomas. Such abnormalities are benign hormone-dependent tumors consisting of muscle-connective tissues. Their treatment is carried out only by surgical intervention.
6. With genital warts. This is the disease that most often affects the external opening of the urethra. This formation is removed surgically.
7. With paraurethral cysts. A cyst is a fluid-filled gland that is located next to the outside of the urethra. She looks like a protruding front wall of the vagina. Pain in the urethra, complicated urination and noticeable bulges around the exit - all this is a sign that a person has paraurethral cysts. Such a disease is treated only by removing cysts under anesthesia (local).
8. With stricture. The narrowing of the urethra is most often associated with complications in the treatment of prostate tumors. In severe cases, the lumen of the urethra is completely blocked, which causes great discomfort to the patient.
9. With an oncological disease. It is extremely rare. More common in women than in men.
To summarize
Urethra - what is it? We answered the question in detail. It should also be noted that, in order to avoid serious diseases of the urethra, specialists recommend daily personal hygiene, not to use products that can irritate the mucous membrane of this organ, and also to use contraception during casual connections.