Membranous urethra

Membranous urethra

The male urethra laid open on its anterior (upper) surface. (Membranous part labeled at upper right.)

Dissection of the prostate showing the prostatic and membranous portions of the urethra (unlabeled)
Details
Latin Pars intermedia urethrae masculinae,
pars membranacea urethrae masculinae
Identifiers
Gray's p.1235
Dorlands
/Elsevier		 p_07/12616970
Anatomical terminology

The intermediate part of male urethra (membranous portion) is the shortest, least dilatable, and, with the exception of the external orifice, the narrowest part of the canal.

It extends downward and forward, with a slight anterior concavity, between the apex of the prostate and the bulb of the urethra, perforating the urogenital diaphragm about 2.5 cm. below and behind the pubic symphysis.

The hinder part of the urethral bulb lies in apposition with the inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm, but its upper portion diverges somewhat from this fascia: the anterior wall of the membranous urethra is thus prolonged for a short distance in front of the urogenital diaphragm; it measures about 2 cm. in length, while the posterior wall which is between the two fasciæ of the diaphragm is only 1.25 cm. long.

The membranous portion of the urethra is completely surrounded by the fibers of the Sphincter urethrae membranaceae.

In front of it the deep dorsal vein of the penis enters the pelvis between the transverse ligament of the pelvis and the arcuate pubic ligament; on either side near its termination are the bulbourethral glands.

Additional images

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links