The urethra, or otherwise the urethra, is the organ of the urinary system in the form of a tube through which urine is excreted out of the bladder.
The length of the urethra in women is much less than that of men. The female urethra has a diameter of up to one and a half centimeters and a length of up to four centimeters.
Where is the urethra in women and its structure
The bladder has an internal opening of the urethra. Further this channel passes through the urogenital diaphragm and ends with an external opening located on the threshold of the vagina, which has a rounded shape and is surrounded by hard, cylindrical edges. The posterior surface of the urethra connects to the wall of the vagina and is parallel to it.
The external aperture of the urethra is narrowed, while the inner urethra is narrower, widened, and funnel-shaped. The entire length of the urethra is located around the urethral glands producing mucus.
Urethra overlap two sphincters: external and internal, whose task is to retain urine.
The urethra is surrounded by a connective tissue, which has a different density in different parts of this organ. The wall of the urethra is represented by the mucous membrane and the muscular membranes. The mucous membrane is covered with several layers of epithelium, and the muscular membrane consists of elastic fibers, a circular and an outer layer of smooth muscles.
Microflora of the urethra in women
In a healthy adult female, the microflora of the urethra is represented mainly by lactobacilli, as well as by epidermal and saprophytic staphylococci. In the female urethra, bifidobacteria (up to 10%) and peptostreptococci (up to 5%) may be present. This set of microorganisms is also called the Doderlein flora.
Depending on the woman's age, the norm of the parameters of the urethral microflora varies.
Diseases of the urethra in women
Diseases of the urethra in women may be related:
- With abnormalities of the urethra: absence of posterior wall (hypospadias), absence of anterior wall (epispadia). They are treated only by plastic surgery.
- With the process of inflammation in the canal. Inflammation of the urethra is otherwise called urethritis and is manifested in women with discomfort, burning and cuts in the urethra. Usually urethritis, taking place in an acute form, is combined with endocervicitis and colpitis. This disease is treated with chemotherapy and antibiotics, as well as infusion of medicinal solutions into the urethra.
- With the prolapse of the urethra, which is a protrusion of the mucous canal outward. In women, this disease occurs most often in old age and can be combined with the omission of the vagina. The reason for this is damage to the muscles of the pelvic day and perineum with prolonged physical work, delivery, prolonged labor, prolonged coughing, and straining with constipation. If the canal walls fall significantly, a circular excision of the fallen urethral wall is used to treat this disease.
- With polyps - small tumoral formations, which are treated, as a rule, by surgical methods.
- With fibromas, angiomas, myomas.
- With pointed kandilomas, which usually affect the external aperture of the urethra and are also removed surgically.
- With paraurethral cysts, which are fluid filled glands located next to the external part of the urethra, and appear as a protrusion of the anterior wall of the vagina. Sometimes these cysts become inflamed and cause pain and fever. This type of cyst is treated by removing them under local anesthesia.