The urethra is a tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the body.
All mammals have it. It allows the removal of urine from the body. There is a muscle (the urethral sphincter) which controls urination.
In male mammals, the urethra is also a part of the reproductive system, because males use it as a tube for sperm during sex.
In human anatomy, men have longer urethras than women. This means that women have bladder infections more often because their bladders are closer to the outside. Because the male urethra is longer and is not straight, inserting a catheter (tube to help urination) is more difficult in men.
In women, the urethra is 3-4 cm (1.5 in) long. It's opening to the outside of the body is part of the vulva (the area between a woman's legs). The female urethra is between the clitoris and the opening to the vagina. Men's urethra goes through their penis, but in women, it is not in the clitoris.
In men, the urethra is about 20 cm (8 in) long and its opening to the outside of the body is at the end of the penis. The male urethra has three sections:
Urinary system (edit) | |
Kidneys | Ureters | Urinary bladder | Urethral sphincters | Urethra |
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