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urethra
urethra
The Oxford Companion to the Body
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2001
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© The Oxford Companion to the Body 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information)
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urethra The passage from the bladder to the outside world. Short in the female, and nothing more nor less than an exit for urine. Long and tortuous in the male, and with a dual role: the vas deferens on each side joins the duct from the seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct; this enters the urethra where it passes through the
prostate gland; the next part, the penile urethra, is thus the channel for either urine or seminal fluid; reflex contraction of the muscular sphincter around the bladder exit prevents backflow into the bladder during
ejaculation. (There is no special mechanism to prevent urine from entering the vasa — the anatomical arrangements and the less forceful nature of urination are sufficient.)
Stuart Judge
See
urogenital system.
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urethra
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
urethra , canal in most mammals that carries urine...it also serves as a genital duct. The urethra is about 1 1/2 in. long (3.8 cm...above the vaginal opening. In men the urethra is about 8 in. (20 cm) long and terminates...
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Hypospadias and Epispadias
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
...defect, primarily of males, in which the urethra opens on the underside (ventrum) of...defect in females is an opening of the urethra into the vagina and is rare. Epispadias...congenital defect of males in which the urethra opens on the upper surface (dorsum...
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Retropubic Suspension
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers
...supporting and stabilizing the bladder and urethra. The Burch procedure, also known as...Burch procedure uses sutures to attach the urethra and bladder to muscle tissue in the pelvic...let urine pass from the bladder to the urethra. People who are continent control the...
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Needle Bladder Neck Suspension
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers
...support the hypermobile, or moveable urethra using sutures to attach it to tissues...incontinence related to muscle weakening of the urethra and the "gate-keeping" sphincter muscles...causes. One has to do with support for the urethra and bladder, known as genuine stress...
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Transurethral Resection of the Prostate
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers
...prostate gland are removed through the urethra. Purpose The prostate is a gland that...surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra (tube that channels urine from the bladder...glandular, with ducts opening into the urethra. It secretes an antigen called prostate...
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