Spongy urethra
Encyclopedia
The spongy urethra is the longest part of the male urethra
, and is contained in the corpus spongiosum
urethraeæ.
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.
Urethra
In anatomy, the urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the genitals for the removal of fluids out of the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine...
, and is contained in the corpus spongiosum
Corpus spongiosum
Corpus spongiosum is the mass of spongy tissue surrounding the male urethra within the penis...
urethraeæ.
It is about 15 cm long, and extends from the termination of the membranous portion to the external urethral orifice
External urethral orifice
External urethral orifice can refer to:* External urethral orifice * External urethral orifice...
.
Commencing below the inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm
Urogenital diaphragm
Older texts have asserted the existence of an urogenital diaphragm, also called the triangular ligament, which was described as a layer of the pelvis that separates the deep perineal sac from the upper pelvis, lying between the inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm and superior fascia of the...
it passes forward and upward to the front of the pubic symphysis
Pubic symphysis
The pubic symphysis or symphysis pubis is the midline cartilaginous joint uniting the superior rami of the left and right pubic bones. It is located anterior to the urinary bladder and superior to the external genitalia; for females it is above the vulva and for males it is above the penis...
; and then, in the flaccid condition of the penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
, 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
Glans penis
The glans penis is the sensitive bulbous structure at the distal end of the penis. The glans penis is anatomically homologous to the clitoral glans of the female...
, where it forms the fossa navicularis urethrae.