Functions:
In both males and females, the urethra is a tube through which urine is excreted from the urinary bladder to outside the body. Males use their urethra for both urination and ejaculation as it carries semen as well as urine.
Diseases:
Hypospadias and epispadias are forms of abnormal development of the urethra in males, where the meatus is not located at the distal end of the penis. Infection of the urethra is urethritis. It may be bacterial, viral-like human papilloma virus. Urethritis is a common cause of dysuria means pain in urinating. Passage of kidney stones through the urethra can be painful which can lead to urethral stricture. Urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra caused by injury or disease.
Interesting Facts:
In females, the length of the urethra is 1 to 2 inches while in males it is about or more than 8 inches long. In females therefore urinary tract infections are more common.
