Female urethra

General Information
Latin	urethra feminina
Greek
TA98
TA2
FMA
Details
System	Urinary system
Artery	Internal pudendal artery
Vein	Internal pudendal vein
Nerve	Pudendal nerve
Lymphatic drainage
Precursor	Urogenital sinus
Function
Identifiers
Clinical significance
Notes

The female urethra is a part of the urinary system in females, responsible for the excretion of urine from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. It is a short, fibromuscular tube that plays a crucial role in the urinary tract.

Anatomy

The female urethra is approximately 4 cm in length and 6 mm in diameter. It extends from the internal urethral orifice at the bladder neck to the external urethral orifice, located in the vulva between the clitoris and the vaginal opening.

Structure

The female urethra is composed of several layers:

• Mucosa: The innermost layer, lined with transitional epithelium near the bladder and stratified squamous epithelium towards the external orifice.
• Submucosa: Contains connective tissue and blood vessels.
• Muscularis: Composed of smooth muscle fibers, including an inner longitudinal and an outer circular layer.
• Adventitia: The outermost layer, consisting of loose connective tissue.

Sphincters

The female urethra is surrounded by two sphincters:

• Internal urethral sphincter: Located at the junction of the bladder and urethra, composed of smooth muscle and under involuntary control.
• External urethral sphincter: Located in the deep perineal pouch, composed of skeletal muscle and under voluntary control.

Function

The primary function of the female urethra is to transport urine from the bladder to the external environment. It also plays a minor role in the female reproductive system by providing a passageway for sperm during sexual intercourse.

Blood Supply

The blood supply to the female urethra is primarily from the internal pudendal artery, a branch of the internal iliac artery. Venous drainage is through the internal pudendal vein.

Nerve Supply

The female urethra receives its nerve supply from the pudendal nerve, which provides both sensory and motor innervation. Autonomic innervation is provided by the pelvic plexus.

Lymphatic Drainage

Lymphatic drainage from the female urethra is directed to the inguinal lymph nodes.

Clinical Significance

Urinary Tract Infections

The short length of the female urethra makes it more susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTIs) compared to the male urethra. Common symptoms include dysuria, increased frequency, and urgency of urination.

Urethral Diverticulum

A urethral diverticulum is a localized outpouching of the urethral wall, which can lead to recurrent infections, post-void dribbling, and dyspareunia.

Urethral Stricture

Urethral stricture in females is rare but can occur due to trauma, infection, or previous surgical procedures, leading to obstructed urine flow.

See Also

• Urinary system
• Urethra
• Urinary bladder
• Vulva