Urinary Meatus

Urinary Meatus

The urinary ( /ˈjʊərɨnˌɛriˌˈjʊərɨnri/) meatus ( /miːˈeɪtəs/) is an orifice or meatus of the urethra. It is the point at which urine and, in males, semen exits the urethra. The meatus features varying degrees of sensitivity to the touch among male mammals and female mammals.

In most males the meatus meets at the junction of the glans and the frenular delta, and continues in a longitudal pattern along the ventral aspect of the glans, which facilitates flow of urine during normal urination (micturition).

In females the meatus is located between the clitoris and the vagina in the vulvular vestibule of the female genitalia.

More specifically, it can refer to:

Internal urethral orifice
External urethral orifice (male)
External urethral orifice (female)

Anatomy: urinary system (TA A08, TH H3.06, GA 11.1215)

Abdomen

Kidneys

Layers	Renal fascia Renal capsule Renal cortex Renal column Renal medulla Renal sinus Renal pyramids medullary interstitium Renal lobe Cortical lobule Medullary ray Nephron

Intrarenal arteries	Renal artery Segmental arteries Interlobar arteries Arcuate arteries Interlobular arteries Afferent arterioles

Renal tubule	Renal corpuscle Glomerulus Bowman's capsule Proximal tubule Loop of Henle Descending Thin ascending Thick ascending Distal convoluted tubule Connecting tubule Collecting ducts aka Duct of Belini Renal papilla Minor calyx Major calyx Renal pelvis

Intrarenal veins	Efferent arterioles Peritubular capillaries/Vasa recta Arcuate vein Interlobar veins Renal vein

JGA	Macula densa Juxtaglomerular cells Mesangium/Extraglomerular mesangial cell

Filtration	Glomerular basement membrane Podocyte Filtration slits Mesangium/Intraglomerular mesangial cell Tubular fluid

Ureters

Orifice of ureter
Adventitia
Muscular layer
Mucosa
Ureteropelvic junction

Pelvis

Bladder	Apex Uvula Neck Median umbilical ligament Muscular layer Trigone Detrusor Mucosa Submucosa

Urethra	Urethral sphincters External sphincter muscle of male urethra External sphincter muscle of female urethra Internal sphincter muscle of urethra

M: URI

anat/phys/devp/cell

noco/acba/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, urte

proc/itvp, drug (G4B), blte, urte

Male reproductive system (TA A09.3–4, TH H3.07.02, GA 11.1236)

Internal

Seminal
tract

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

Other	Seminiferous tubules Tubuli seminiferi recti Rete testis Efferent ducts Epididymis Appendix Stereocilia Paradidymis Spermatic cord Vas deferens Ampulla Ejaculatory duct

Accessory
glands

Seminal vesicles
- Excretory duct of seminal gland
Prostate
- Urethral crest/Seminal colliculus/Prostatic utricle/Ejaculatory duct
- Prostatic sinus/Prostatic ducts
Bulbourethral glands

External

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

Urinary tract	Internal urethral orifice Urethra Prostatic Intermediate Spongy Navicular fossa External urethral orifice Lacunae of Morgagni Urethral gland

Scrotum	layers skin Dartos External spermatic fascia Cremaster/Cremasteric fascia Internal spermatic fascia Perineal raphe