Urethra

What is the urethra?

Tubular organ that serves as an outlet for urine from urinary bladder

What is the functional difference between the urethra in females and males?

Females: Only convey urine

Males: Carries urine, semen and seminal secretions

Urethral Sphincter

• What

• 2 types

What: Muscles used to control exit of urine in urinary bladder

Types:

• Internal urethral sphincter

• External urethral sphincter

Urethral Sphincter: Internal Urethral Sphincter

• Type of muscle

• Location

• Function

• How it stops the flow of urine

Type of muscle: Smooth

Location: Continuous with detrusor muscle of bladder

Function: Regulates involuntary control of urine flow from bladder —> urethra

How it stops the flow of urine: Through contraction, stopping flow through the internal urethral orifice

Urethral Sphincter: External urethral sphincter

• Type of muscle

• Location

• Function

Type of muscle: Striated urethralis muscle

Location: Distal third of urethra

Function: Provides voluntary control of urine flow from bladder —> urethra

Urinary Incontinence in Dogs

• What

• AKA

• Clinical signs

• Causes

#ffbb00

What: Loss of voluntary control of urination

AKA: Involuntary urine leakage

Clinical signs: Spotting or pooling of urine or dribbling of urine

Causes:

• Neurological

• Bladder storage dysfunction

• Urethral disorder

Female Urethra #ff00d1

• Where does the it begin and end

• Relationship between female urethra and bladder

• Location in relation to reproductive tract

• How does it exit the body

• Anatomical term for the external opening

Where does the it begin and end:

• Begins: Internal urethral orifice (at bladder neck)

• Ends: External urethral orifice (in cranial vestibule)

Relationship between female urethra and bladder: Continuous with bladder and runs caudally from it

Location in relation to reproductive tract: Runs ventral to the reproductive tract along the pelvic floor

How does it exit the body: Passes obliquely through vaginal wall and opens ventrally at the junction between vagina and vestibule

Anatomical term for the external opening: External urethral orifice located on the floor of cranial vestibule

Male Urethra

• Where does it begin and end

• Consist of 2 parts

• Carries

Where does it begin and end:

• Begins: Internal opening at bladder neck

• End: External opening at end of penis

Consist of 2 parts:

• Pelvic part (further divided into preprostatic and prostatic part)

• Penile part

Carries: Urine, semen and seminal secretions to the distal end of penis

Male Urethra: Pelvic Part

• Preprostatic part

  • Long or short

  • Where it begins and ends

• Prostatic part

  • Passes through

Preprostatic part:

• Long or short: Short

• Where it begins and ends:

  • Begins: Internal opening of urethra

  • Ends: Seminal hillock with openings of deferent ducts

Prostatic part:

• Passes through: Prostate glands

Male Urethra: Prostate gland

• Shape

• Location

• Divides the urethra into

Shape: Spherical

Location: Between preprostatic urethra and postprostatic urethra

Divides the urethra into:

• Preprostatic

• Prostatic: Surrounded dorsolaterally by prostate gland

• Postprostatic: Runs from body of prostate gland to the root of penis (paired bulbourethral glands also present in cats here)

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

• Describes conditions affecting

• Causes

• Types

• Which gender at greater risk

• Symptoms

Describes conditions affecting: Bladder or urethra of cats

Causes: Physical conditions and behavioural disorders

Types: Non-obstructive and obstructive types

Which gender at greater risk: Males due to their narrower urethra

Symptoms:

• Difficulty and pain when urinating

• Increased urination

• Blood in urine