Pre-prostatic urethra

Pre-prostatic Urethra

The Pre-prostatic Urethra is a part of the male urethra that extends from the internal urethral orifice of the urinary bladder to the prostate gland. It is also known as the intramural or preprostatic part of the urethra.

Anatomy

The pre-prostatic urethra is approximately 0.5 inches (1.25 cm) in length and is the most proximal part of the urethra. It is surrounded by the internal and external urethral sphincters, which control the flow of urine from the bladder into the urethra. The pre-prostatic urethra is lined by transitional epithelium, which is capable of stretching to accommodate the flow of urine.

Function

The primary function of the pre-prostatic urethra is to transport urine from the bladder to the prostatic urethra. The internal urethral sphincter, which surrounds the pre-prostatic urethra, contracts to prevent the flow of urine during ejaculation and relaxes to allow the flow of urine during urination.

Clinical Significance

Conditions that can affect the pre-prostatic urethra include urethral stricture, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostate cancer. Urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra that can cause difficulty urinating. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is an enlargement of the prostate gland that can compress the urethra and cause difficulty urinating. Prostate cancer can also affect the pre-prostatic urethra, as the cancer can spread from the prostate gland to the urethra.

See Also

• Urethra
• Prostatic Urethra
• Urinary Bladder
• Prostate Gland