Prostatic urethra

The prostatic urethra, the widest and most dilatable part of the urethra canal, is about 3 cm long.

Prostatic urethra
The male urethra laid open on its anterior (upper) surface. (Prostatic part labeled at upper right.)
1: Vas deferens 2: Seminal vesicle 3: Base of the prostate 4: Apex of the prostate 5: Prostatic urethra
Details
Identifiers
Latin	pars prostatica urethrae
TA98	A09.4.02.004
TA2	3445
FMA	19673
Anatomical terminology

It runs almost vertically through the prostate from its base to its apex, lying nearer its anterior than its posterior surface; the form of the canal is spindle-shaped, being wider in the middle than at either extremity, and narrowest below, where it joins the membranous portion.

A transverse section of the canal as it lies in the prostate is horse-shoe-shaped, with the convexity directed forward.

The keyhole sign, in ultrasound, is associated with a dilated bladder and prostatic urethra.

Additional images

• 
  Lobes of prostate
• 
  Zones of prostate
• 
  Structure of the penis
• 
  Vertical section of bladder, penis, and urethra.
• 
  Vesiculæ seminales and ampullæ of ductus deferentes, seen from the front.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1234 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• Anatomy image: malepel2-4 at the College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University
• Cross section image: pelvis/pelvis-e12-15—Plastination Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna
• Anatomy photo:44:05-0201 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Male Pelvis: The Prostate Gland"