Spongy urethra

The spongy urethra (cavernous portion of urethra, penile urethra) is the longest part of the male urethra, and is contained in the corpus spongiosum of the penis.

Not to be confused with urethral sponge.
Spongy urethra
The human male urethra laid open on its anterior (upper) surface.
Details
PrecursorUrogenital folds
Identifiers
Latinpars spongiosa urethrae masculinae, pars cavernosa urethrae masculinae
TA98A09.4.02.021
TA23682, 3455
FMA19675
Anatomical terminology

It is about 15 cm long, and extends from the termination of the membranous portion to the external urethral orifice.

Commencing below the inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm it passes forward and upward to the front of the pubic symphysis; and then, in the flaccid condition of the penis, it bends downward and forward.

It is narrow, and of uniform size in the body of the penis, measuring about 6 mm in diameter; it is dilated behind, within the bulb, and again anteriorly within the glans penis, where it forms the fossa navicularis urethrae.

The spongy urethra runs along the length of the penis on its ventral (underneath) surface. It is about 15–16 cm in length, and travels through the corpus spongiosum. The spongy urethra, along with some of the skin on the shaft, is also homologous to the female labia minora.[1] The ducts from the urethral gland (gland of Littré) enter here. The openings of the bulbourethral glands are also found here.[2] Some textbooks will subdivide the spongy urethra into two parts, the bulbous and pendulous urethra. The urethral lumen (interior) runs effectively parallel to the penis, except at the narrowest point, the external urethral meatus, where it is vertical. This produces a spiral stream of urine and has the effect of cleaning the external urethral meatus. The lack of an equivalent mechanism in the female urethra partly explains why urinary tract infections occur so much more frequently in females.

Epithelium

Pseudostratified columnar – proximally, Stratified squamous – distally

Additional images
  • Structure of the penis.
    Structure of the penis.
  • Male reproductive system.
    Male reproductive system.

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1234 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Lobo, Rogerio A.; Gershenson, David M.; Lentz, Gretchen M (2016). Comprehensive Gynecology. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-32343-003-6. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  2. Atlas of Human Anatomy 5th Edition, Netter.
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