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urethra

urethra

The Oxford Companion to the Body | 2001 | | Copyright

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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COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "urethra." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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urethra

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

urethra , canal in most mammals that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body; in the male it also serves as a genital duct. The urethra is about 1 1/2 in. long (3.8 cm) in women, terminating above the vaginal opening. In men the urethra is about 8 in. (20 cm) long and terminates in an opening at the end of the penis. In the male the urethra is connected to the prostate gland and to the seminal vesicles and testes. It transports semen received from those organs as well as urine. See also urinary system .

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urethroplasty

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

urethroplasty (yoor-ee-throh-plasti) n. surgical repair of the urethra, especially a urethral stricture. The operation entails the insertion of a flap or patch of skin from the scrotum or perineum into the urethra at the site of the stricture, which is laid widely open. transpubic u. surgical repair of a ruptured posterior urethra following a fractured pelvis. Access to the damaged urethra is achieved by partial removal of the pubic bone.
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urethra

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

urethra (yoor-ee-thră) n. the tube that conducts urine from the bladder to the exterior. The female urethra is quite short (about 3.5 cm) and opens just within the vulva, between the clitoris and vagina. The male urethra is longer (about 20 cm) and runs through the penis. It also serves as the ejaculatory duct.
—urethral adj.
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urethrocele

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

urethrocele (yoor-ee-throh-seel) n. prolapse of the urethra into the vaginal wall causing a bulbous swelling to appear in the vagina, particularly on straining. The condition is associated with previous childbirth. Treatment usually involves surgical repair of the lax tissues.
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urethra

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

u·re·thra / yoŏˈrē[unvoicedth]rə/ • n. Anat. & Zool. the duct by which urine is conveyed out of the body from the bladder, and which in male vertebrates also conveys semen. DERIVATIVES: u·re·thral adj.
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urethrostomy

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

urethrostomy (yoor-i-throst-ŏmi) n. the operation of creating an opening of the urethra in the perineum in men. This can be permanent, to bypass a severe stricture of the urethra in the penis, or it can form the first stage of a urethroplasty.
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urethra

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | Copyright

urethra The duct in mammals that conveys urine from the bladder to be discharged to the outside of the body. In males the urethra passes through the penis and is joined by the vas deferens; it therefore also serves as a channel for sperm.
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urethrography

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

urethrography (yoor-i-throg-răfi) n. X-ray examination of the urethra, after introduction of a contrast medium, so that its outline and any narrowing or other abnormalities may be observed in X-ray images (urethrograms).
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urethroscope

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

urethroscope (yoor-ee-thrŏ-skohp) n. an endoscope, consisting of a fine tube fitted with a light and lenses, for examination of the interior of the male urethra.
—urethroscopy (yoor-i-throsk-ŏpi) n.
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urethrotomy

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

urethrotomy (yoor-i-throt-ŏmi) n. the operation of cutting a stricture in the urethra. It is usually performed with a urethrotome: a type of endoscope that consists of a sheath down which is passed a fine knife.
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urethrorrhaphy

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

urethrorrhaphy (yoor-i-thro-răfi) n. surgical restoration of the continuity of the urethra. This may be required following laceration of the urethra.
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urethra

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

urethra Duct through which urine is discharged from the bladder in mammals. In males, the urethra is also the tube through which semen is ejaculated.
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urethrorrhoea

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

urethrorrhoea (yoor-ee-thrŏ-ree-ă) n. a discharge from the urethra. This is a symptom of urethritis.
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urethrostenosis

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

urethrostenosis (yoor-ee-throh-sti-noh-sis) n. a stricture of the urethra.
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urethra

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

urethra •airer, bearer, carer, Clara, darer, declarer, Demerara, Éire, habanera, Halmahera, parer, Perak, primavera, repairer, Rivera, Riviera, Sarah, scarer, sharer, snarer, sparer, squarer, starer, swearer, tearer, wearer •cause célèbre • torch-bearer •swordbearer • pallbearer • wayfarer •seafarer • capoeira • Phaedra •sacra, simulacra •Libra, vers libre •ex cathedra •chypre, Ypres •palaestra (US palestra) • urethra •joie de vivre •mirror, sirrah •Coimbra • Middlesbrough • Indra •Sintra •aspidistra, sistra •algebra • orchestra • vertebra •Beira, Fujairah, Hegira, Lyra, Myra, naira, palmyra, spirogyra •Hydra • Lycra •begorra, Gomorrah, horror •double entendre • genre • amour propre • Le Nôtre • contra •Cosa Nostra, rostra

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

the URETHRA.(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: Esquire; 1/1/2000
World's first tissue-engineered urethras called a success by medical experts.
Newspaper article from: Transplant News; 4/1/2011
Slim-Fit Tampon Mistakenly Inserted Into Urethra.
Magazine article from: OB GYN News; 5/1/2001

Facts and information from other sites

urethra images
urethra. (Image by UtherSRG, Rasmus Faber, GFDL)

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