Urethra

The urethra is the muscular tube that transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. It is the opening of the urinary tract and is held closed by the urethral sphincter which is essential in keeping the urine in the bladder until the individual is ready to urinate.

In females, the urethra begins from the bladder’s bottom and extends through the pelvic floor and opens into the vagina. Since the urethra of females is shorter and near the rectum, women have a higher risk for urinary tract infection. In males, the urethra passes through the prostate gland and penis.

It can be divided into three parts: prostatic, membranous, and spongy. The prostatic urethra is situated in the uppermost part within the prostate. The membranous urethra is located within the urethral sphincter and the spongy urethra is the longest section; it is in the lowermost part within the length of the penis.