The Urethra

The urethra is a part of the urinary tract, which allows urine from the bladder to pass outside the body during urination. In both males and females, the urethra is the last portion of the urinary tract.

The female and male urethra varies in length. The female urethra is about 4 centimeters long. The male urethra is longer, which measures about 15 to 20 centimeters long.

The Male and Female urinary tracts.

Disorder of the Urethra

The most common condition that affects the urethra is a urinary tract infection (UTI). An infection in the urethra is specifically termed as urethritis. The most common cause is bacterial infection. Urinary tract infection is usually treated with antibiotics.

Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NDDK), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Image Credit: NIDDK Image Library

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