[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Pelvis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/pelvis/) › Urethra (male) [Urinary system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/urinary-system/) · [Pelvis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/pelvis/) # Urethra (male) The male urethra is the long tube that runs from the bladder through the prostate and the penis; it carries urine and, at ejaculation, semen. Official name: Male urethra [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=pelvis&variant=male&select=urethra&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is The male urethra, about 18-20 cm long, from the bladder neck to the tip of the glans, in three parts: prostatic, membranous and spongy. ## What it does Carries urine out and, at ejaculation, semen; its sphincters keep it closed between voids. ## Key points - Clinically split at the perineal membrane into a posterior urethra (prostatic and membranous) and an anterior urethra (bulbar and penile); injury, stricture and extravasation patterns follow this split - Two bends when flaccid: a fixed subpubic curve and a mobile prepubic curve; lifting the penis straightens the prepubic curve for catheterization - The external meatus is the narrowest point, followed by the membranous part; the widest are the prostatic part, the bulb and the [navicular](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/navicular-bone/) fossa ## Key facts **Where** About 18–20 cm from the internal urethral orifice to the external meatus; parts: prostatic, membranous, spongy (some texts add a preprostatic part at the bladder neck) **Blood supply** Prostatic part: inferior vesical artery; membranous and spongy parts: artery of the bulb, urethral and dorsal arteries (internal pudendal) **Nerve** Prostatic plexus (autonomic; internal sphincter); [pudendal nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pudendal-nerve/) (S2–S4) to the external sphincter and mucosal sensation **Function** Conveys urine and semen; internal sphincter at the bladder neck prevents retrograde ejaculation; external sphincter gives voluntary continence ## Relations **Course** From the internal urethral orifice at the bladder neck down through the [prostate](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/prostate/), through the [external urethral sphincter](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/female-external-urethral-sphincter/) and the [perineal membrane](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/perineal-membrane/), forward in the bulb of the [corpus spongiosum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/corpus-spongiosum-of-penis/) and along the penis to the meatus on the [glans penis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/glans-of-penis/) ## How to find it Its penile course is followed along the underside of the shaft, from the meatus at the tip of the glans back to the bulb, which sits in the midline just in front of the [perineal body](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/perineal-body/). Higher up it passes behind and below the [pubic symphysis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pubic-symphysis/), where only a catheter, a urethroscope or the finger in the [rectum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/rectum/) reaches it. ## Examination - Urine flow test (uroflowmetry): a low, flat, plateau-shaped curve suggests a stricture; a low curve of normal shape suggests prostatic obstruction or a weak bladder ## On imaging Retrograde urethrography shows the anterior urethra; voiding cystourethrography shows the posterior urethra; together they map strictures and injuries. Urethroscopy shows the lining directly. ## Common problems - Urethral stricture: a narrowing from scarring after infection, injury or instruments. - Urethritis, often a sexually transmitted infection (burning when passing urine, discharge). - Its length and two bends make a catheter harder to pass than in women. ## How it is diagnosed Urine tests and swabs; urine flow test; urethrogram or a scope (urethroscopy). ## Treatment - Antibiotics for urethritis; widening or surgical repair (urethroplasty) of a stricture. ## Clinical notes - Catheterization: resistance at the meatus or the membranous part is common; resistance at the bladder neck suggests BPH or a bladder neck contracture; suspected urethral injury calls for a suprapubic route - Posterior injuries (pelvic fracture, membranous part) leak into the [pelvis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/pelvis/) around the bladder; anterior injuries (straddle fall, bulbar part) leak into the perineum under Colles fascia - Retrograde ejaculation follows when the bladder neck fails to close, as after TURP or with diabetic neuropathy ## Development Above the perineal membrane it comes from the urogenital sinus (endoderm); the penile part forms as the urethral folds close along the underside of the genital tubercle, and incomplete closure leaves hypospadias. ## Related conditions - [Acute urinary retention](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/acute-urinary-retention/) - [Catheter-associated urinary tract infection](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/catheter-associated-urinary-tract-infection/) - [Reactive arthritis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/reactive-arthritis/) - [Phimosis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/phimosis/) ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## Where is the male urethra divided into posterior and anterior parts, and what does each include? At the perineal membrane: posterior = prostatic and membranous; anterior = bulbar and penile. Injury and stricture patterns follow this split. ## What are the two bends of the flaccid male urethra, and how is one straightened for catheterisation? A fixed subpubic curve and a mobile prepubic curve; lifting the penis straightens the prepubic curve. ## What is the narrowest point of the male urethra? The external meatus, followed by the membranous part; the widest are the prostatic part, the bulb and the navicular fossa. ## On uroflowmetry, what does a low, flat, plateau-shaped curve suggest? A urethral stricture; a low curve of normal shape suggests prostatic obstruction or a weak bladder. ## What causes retrograde ejaculation through the male urethra? Failure of the internal sphincter at the bladder neck to close, as after TURP or with diabetic neuropathy. [Add to my cards (5)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/male-urethra/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** urethra masculina **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Uretra masculina **English (TA2)** Male urethra ## Related - [Prostatic urethra](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/prostatic-urethra-seminal-colliculus/) Sources: [Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Male Genitourinary Tract](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562291/); [Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Sphincter Urethrae](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482438/); Anatomy of the Human Body (20th ed.): Surface Markings of the Perineum (Lea & Febiger (Gray's Anatomy, 1918), 1918) · adapted, Public domain; [25.2 Gross Anatomy of Urine Transport](https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/25-2-gross-anatomy-of-urine-transport) (OpenStax (Rice University), 2022) · adapted, [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/male-urethra/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/male-urethra/