(ū-rē′thră)

[Gr. ourethra]
The tube for the discharge of urine extending from the bladder to the outside. In females, its orifice lies in the vaginal vestibule; in males, the urethra passes through the prostate gland and the penis, opening at the tip of the glans penis. In males, it serves as the passage for semen as well as urine. Its lining, the mucosa, is thrown into folds and contains the openings of the urethral glands. Surrounding the mucosa is a lamina propria containing many elastic fibers and blood vessels, outside of which is an indefinite muscular layer.SEE: penis;