Urethral crest

Urethral crest
The male urethra laid open on its anterior (upper) surface. (Urethral crest labeled at upper right.)
Dissection of prostate showing prostatic urethra and urethral crest on posterior wall.
Details
Identifiers
Latin	crista urethralis urethrae masculinae, crista urethralis urethrae femininae
TA98	A09.2.03.004 A09.4.02.007
TA2	3430, 3446
FMA	19718
Anatomical terminology

The urethral crest is an anatomical feature present in the urinary system of both males and females.

In males, the urethral crest is known as the crista urethralis masculinae, or the crista phallica, and is a longitudinal fold on the posterior wall of the urethra extending from the uvula of the bladder through the prostatic urethra.^[1] It is from 15 to 17 mm. in length, and about 3 mm. in height, and contains muscular and erectile tissue. When distended, it may serve to prevent the passage of the semen backward into the bladder.^[2]

In females, it is known as the crista urethralis femininae, and is a conspicuous longitudinal fold of mucosa on the posterior wall of the urethra.^[3]

Additional images

• 
  Vesiculæ seminales and ampullæ of ductus deferentes, seen from the front.

References

External links

• Anatomy photo:44:st-2200 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Male Pelvis: Urethral crest"
• pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (malebladder)
• figures/chapter_34/34-3.HTM: Basic Human Anatomy at Dartmouth Medical School