Female urethra (dave's notes)

Question 1

Describe the length and anatomical location of the female urethra

Answer 1

4cm long with all except the upper most part embedded within the anterior wall of the vagina.

Question 2

Where is the female urethral orifice found?

Answer 2

2.5cm behind the clitoris

Question 3

Describe the internal sphincter of the female urethra

Answer 3

There is no internal sphincter

Question 4

Describe the blood supply of the female urethra

Answer 4

Inferior vesical and uterine arteries

Question 5

Describe the lymphatic drainage of the female urethra

Answer 5

Mainly to the internal iliac nodes + external iliac nodes

Question 6

Describe the nerve supply of the female urethra

Answer 6

From the iliohypogastric plexus and the perineal nerve

Question 7

Describe the histological structure of the female urethra

Answer 7

There is a longitudinal layer of visceral muscle with mucous membrane lined with transitional epithelium

Question 8

What glands are found in or near the urethra, and where? What is their comparison in men?

Answer 8

Scattered mucous glands of Skene are found throughout the mucous membrane of the urethra, comparable to the prostate.

Question 9

What forms the urethral sphincter? Where is it found?

Answer 9

The external urethral sphincter is found outside the visceral muscle, which is thickest in the middle of the urethra

Question 10

What did the urethra develop from?

Answer 10

The vesicourethral part of the cloaca