Spongy urethra

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Spongy urethra
The male urethra laid open on its anterior (upper) surface.
Latin	pars spongiosa urethrae masculinae, pars cavernosa
Gray's	subject #256 1234
Precursor	Urogenital folds
Dorlands/Elsevier	p_07/12617822

The spongy urethra (cavernous portion of urethra, penile 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 symphysis pubis; 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.

[edit] Additional images

Structure of the penis.

Male reproductive system.

[edit] External links

• Spongy+urethra at eMedicine Dictionary
• Cross section at UV pembody/body18b
• SUNY Labs 44:06-0104 - "The Male Pelvis: The Urethra"

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 As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.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.

v • d • e Male reproductive system Scrotum layers (skin, Dartos, External spermatic fascia, Cremaster/Cremasteric fascia, Internal spermatic fascia) • Perineal raphe • Spermatic cord Testes layers (Tunica vaginalis, Tunica albuginea, Tunica vasculosa testis) • Appendix • Mediastinum • Lobules • Septa • Leydig cell • Sertoli cell • Blood-testis barrier Spermatogenesis Spermatogonium • Spermatocytogenesis • Spermatocyte • Spermatidogenesis • Spermatid • Spermiogenesis • Spermatozoon seminal tract Seminiferous tubules (Tubuli seminiferi recti, Rete testis, Efferent ducts) • Epididymis  (Appendix, Stereocilia) • Vas deferens (Ampulla) • Ejaculatory duct urinary tract Internal urethral orifice • Urethra (Prostatic, Intermediate, Spongy, Navicular fossa) • External urethral orifice accessory glands Seminal vesicles  (Excretory duct of seminal gland) • Prostate  (Urethral crest/Seminal colliculus/Prostatic utricle/Ejaculatory duct, Prostatic sinus/Prostatic ducts) • Bulbourethral glands Penis root (Crus, Bulb, Fundiform ligament, Suspensory ligament) • body (Corpus cavernosum, Corpus spongiosum) • glans (Foreskin, Frenulum, Corona) • fascia (superficial/subcutaneous, deep/Buck's) • Tunica albuginea - Septum of the penis