URETHRA

(Lat.), n. U2r(ur)-eth(ath)'ra3. Gr.. ovprjdpa (from ovpeiv, to urinate). Fr., urethre, uretre. Ger., Harnrohre. The tube, consisting of an internal mucous coat and an external coat made up of two layers of muscular fibres, the internal being longitudinal and the external circular, which serves for voiding the urine, and in the male sex for the ejaculation of the semen. In the adult male it is about 9 inches in length and forms a portion of the penis. It is divided into three portions: the prostatic. where it pa es through the prostate gland; the membranous, or intermediate part; and the spongy, or that which is surrounded by erectile ti ue (the corpus spongiosum). Its mucous lining is freely supplied, exO, no; O", not; O3, whole: Th, thin: Th. the: U, like oo in too: [s. 677]