Urinary meatus
| Urinary meatus | |
|---|---|
 Human urinary meatus on the male glans penis (left) and in the female vulval vestibule (right) | |
| Details | |
| Part of | Penis or vulva |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | ostium urethrae externum |
| FMA | 19650 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The urinary meatus[a] (/miːˈeɪtəs/, mee-AY-təs; pl.: meatus or meatuses), also known as the external urethral orifice, is the opening where urine exits the male and female urethra. It is where semen also exits the male urethra. The meatus has varying degrees of sensitivity to touch.
In human males
The male external urethral orifice is the external opening of the urethra, normally located at the tip of the
In human females
The female external urethral orifice is the external opening of the
Some evidence exists to suggest that the
Evidence also suggests that decreased distance from the vaginal opening to the urethral meatus is associated with recurrent post-coital urinary tract infections. [2] Surgical repositioning of the distal urethra to prevent recurrent post-coital urinary tract infections has been employed with some success by Russian physicians.[3]
In other mammals
Unlike most other mammals (including human), female spotted hyenas have a urinary meatus that is located on the clitoral glans.[4][5]
Clinical significance
See also
Notes
- ^ Meatus refers to a tubular opening or passage in the body. From Latin meātus: a course, passing.