Male urethra

Question 1

What are the parts of the male urethera?

Answer 1

preprostatic (intramural) part - prostatic part - membranous (intermediate) part - spongy (penile) part

Question 2

What is the length of the preprostatic part of the the male urethra?

Answer 2

0.5-1.5 cm

Question 3

What is the length of the prostatic part of the the male urethra?

Answer 3

3.0-4.0 cm

Question 4

What is the length of the membranous part of the the male urethra?

Answer 4

1.0-1.5 cm

Question 5

What is the length of the spongy part of the the male urethra?

Answer 5

15 cm

Question 6

Describe the location of the intramural part of the male urethra

Answer 6

• extends almost vertically through the neck of the bladder

Question 7

Describe the location of the prostatic part of the male urethra

Answer 7

• descends through anterior prostate - forms gentle, anteriorly concave curve - bounded anteriorly by vertical trough-like part (rhabdosphincter) of external urethral sphincter

Question 8

Describe the location of the intermediate part of the male urethra

Answer 8

• passes through deep perineal pouch - surrounded by circular fibers of extrnal urethral sphincter - penetrates perineal membrane

Question 9

Describe the location of the penile part of the male urethra

Answer 9

• courses through corpus spongiosum - initial widening occurs in bulb of penis - widens again distally as navicular fossa (in glans penis)

Question 10

What are the features of the preprostatic part of the male urethra?

Answer 10

• surrounded by internal urethral sphincter - diameter and length vary (depends on whether bladder is filing or emptying)

Question 11

What are the features of the prostatic part of the male urethra?

Answer 11

• widest and most dilatable part - features urethral crest with seminal colliculus - flanked by prostatic sinuses into which the prostatic ducts open - ejaculatory ducts open onto colliculus (hence urinary and reproductive tracts merge in this part)

Question 12

What are the features of the membranous part of the male urethra?

Answer 12

• narrowest and least distensible part (except for external urethral orifice)

Question 13

What are the features of the spongy part of the male urethra?

Answer 13

• longest and most mobile part - bulbourethral glands open into bulbous part - distally urethral glands open into small urethral lacunae entering lumen of this part