14 Difference Between Male Urethra And Female Urethra (With Pictures)

Urethra is the vessels responsible for transporting urine from the bladder to an external opening in the perineum. It is lined by stratified columnar epithelium which is protected from corrosive urine by mucus secreting glands.

The male urethra is a narrow fibromuscular tube that conducts urine and semen from bladder and ejaculatory ducts respectively to the exterior of the body.  Although the male urethra is a single structure, it is composed of a heterogeneous series of segments which include:

• Prostatic segment
• Membranous segment
• Spongy segment

The female urethra is a relatively simple tubular structure that has the sole purpose of conducting urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. It is a short structure without complex investing structures thus it is less prone to intrinsic pathology than the male Urethra is.

Overview Of Male Urethra And Female Urethra

• The male urethra is the canal through which urine and semen (a fluid containing spermatozoa and sex gland secretions. On the other hand, female urethra is the canal through which urine is passed to the exterior in females.
• Male urethra opens to the exterior at the tip of the penis by urinogenital arperture while the female urethra opens to the outside interiorly to the vaginal opening (in front of vaginal arperture).
• The male urethra is longer than the female urethra; it is approximately 15-20 cm in length whereas the female urethra is approximately 4 cm in length.
• The diameter of the male urethra is approximately 8-9 mm whereas the diameter of the female urethra is approximately 6 mm.
• In male urethra, the lymphatic drainage also varies according to the region of the urethra. The prostatic and membranous portions drain to the obturator and internal iliac nodes while the penile urethra drains to the deep and superficial inguinal nodes. In females, lymphatic drainage of the proximal female urethra is to the internal iliac nodes while the distal urethra drains to the superficial inguinal lymph node.
• The female urethra is short and therefore not differentiated into regions. On the contrary, the male urethra is long and differentiated into four regions:  Penile urethra, membranous urethra, prostatic urethra and pre-prostatic urethra.
• Male urethra is longer in length and therefore can be more affected by the passing of the kidney stones. On the other hand, due to its short length, female urethra is less likely to be affected by the kidney stones when compared to the male urethra.
• The catheterization of female urethra is simple when compared to catheterization of male urethra. Urinary catheterization is the process of inserting a tube through the urethra and into the bladder. This is done in situations where urine output needs to be monitored or when a patient is unable to pass urine.
• The nerve supply to the male urethra is derived from the prostatic plexus which contains a mixture of sympathetic, parasympathetic and visceral afferent fibres. On the other hand, the nerve supply to the female urethra arises from the vesical plexus and the pudendal nerve. Visceral afferents from the urethra run in the pelvic splanchnic nerve.
• Females are more susceptible to infections of the urinary tract due to short length of the urethra. This usually manifests as cystitis, an infection of the bladder. Urinary tract infections and related bacterial infections are less common in male urethra.
• The path of the female urethra is straighter whereas the path of the male urethra is more in curving.
• Female urethral sphincter regulates the movement of urine only. On the other hand, the male urethral sphincter regulates the movement of both urine and semen.
• Male urethra can be categorized to both urinary and reproductive system while the female urethra can be categorized only to the urinary system.

What Are Some Of The Similarities Between Male And Female Urethra

• Both arise from the bladder
• Consist of transitional epithelium in the lining.
• Both are part of the urinary system

Also Read: Difference Between White And Clear Sperm

Male Urethra Vs. Female Urethra In Tabular Form

Also Read: Difference Between Male And Female Pelvis