How many urethra

It is held in place by ligaments that are attached to other organs and the pelvic bones. The bladder's walls relax and expand to store urine, and contract and flatten to empty urine through the urethra. The typical healthy adult bladder can store up to two cups of urine for two to five hours. Upon examination, specific "landmarks" are used to describe the location of any irregularities in the bladder. These are:. Two sphincter muscles. These circular muscles help keep urine from leaking by closing tightly like a rubber band around the opening of the bladder.

Nerves in the bladder. The nerves alert a person when it is time to urinate, or empty the bladder. Urethritis happens when bacteria like gonorrhea or chlamydia cause swelling and pain in the urethra. UTIs cause infection in the urinary tract as a whole, which can be caused by a urethra defect among other issues in the urinary tract. In general, there can be many causes behind urethral pain , including bacteria, skin conditions, and even certain medications or food. There are also gender-specific causes, such as benign prostate hyperplasia in men and epididymitis.

Women can suffer urethral pain due to products like spermicides, soaps, lotions, and douches , in addition to intercourse, yeast infections , and bacterial vaginosis. Even menopause can lead to a prolapsed urethra in severe cases. It's important to discuss any pain or discomfort in your urethra or urinary tract with your healthcare provider. They will be able to assess your overall health, age, and lifestyle factors, in addition to running one or more of the below diagnostic tests to pinpoint what exactly is causing your pain, and if it's affecting your urethra directly or indirectly.

There are a few tests that can be done in order to diagnose a urethra disorder. They include:. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell what area of the urinary tract your pain is coming from, particularly in those with female anatomy since the urethra is so short.

Your healthcare provider will be able to tell which tests are right for you based on your symptoms, such as any difficulty or issues passing urine in addition to pain or discomfort when urinating or ejaculating. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

Reuter Victor E. Urologic Surgical Pathology. Teach Me Anatomy. The urethra. Rabinowitz R. Urethra defects. Merck Manual. Updated April Clinical implications of the anatomical position of the urethra meatus in women with recurrent post-coital cystitis: a case-control study. The renal system is responsible for producing, storing, and eliminating liquid waste in the form of urine.

The urethra is closely linked with the reproductive organs, so the anatomy of the urethra is different between males and females. The female urethra begins at the bottom of the bladder, known as the neck.

It extends downward, through the muscular area of the pelvic floor. Before reaching the urethral opening, urine passes through the urethral sphincter. The urethra opens into the vestibule, the area between the labia minora. The urethral opening sits just in front of the vaginal opening. The urethra is lined by a layer of cells called the epithelium. Glands within the urethra produce mucus. This mucus helps protect the epithelium against damage from corrosive urine.

The female urethra is significantly shorter than the male urethra. This means that females often have a higher risk of developing urinary tract infections UTIs. Urethritis refers to inflammation of the urethra. Urethritis sometimes develops in response to a recent urinary procedure or placement of a catheter.

Bacteria can spread from the anus to the urethra, especially if you wipe back to front after going to the bathroom. In addition, sexually transmitted infections STIs can cause urethritis. These include:. If a surgery or catheter placement is causing urethritis, it usually resolves on its own over time. However, urethritis due to an infection requires treatment with antibiotics or antiviral medication.

Sometimes the urethra narrows or becomes blocked. This is known as urethral stricture. Males are more likely to develop urethral stricture because of their longer urethras, but it can affect females as well.

An injury often causes urethral stricture, such as an accident or surgery. Infections, including STIs, can also cause it. Urethral cancer is one of the rarer types of cancer. It can rapidly spread to surrounding tissues in the bladder and vagina. It may not cause any symptoms in its early stages. However, urethral cancer can eventually result in:.

Risk factors include:. In females, the urethra is short, only 3 to 4 cm about 1. The external urethral orifice opens to the outside just anterior to the opening for the vagina.

In males, the urethra is much longer, about 20 cm 7 to 8 inches in length, and transports both urine and semen.