Urethral crest

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Urethral crest
The male urethra laid open on its anterior (upper) surface. (Urethral crest labeled at upper right.)
Latin	crista urethralis urethrae masculinae, crista urethralis urethrae femininae
Gray's	subject #256 1234
Dorlands/Elsevier	c_62/13538713

Upon the posterior wall of the prostatic urethra is a narrow longitudinal ridge, the urethral crest, formed by an elevation of the mucous membrane and its subjacent tissue.

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.

[edit] Additional images

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

[edit] External links

• SUNY Labs 44:st-2200 - "The Male Pelvis: Urethral crest"
• Norman/Georgetown pelvis

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.