Dissection of the Male Urethra Demonstrating Its Topographical Specificity

Abstract

The urethra is a long muscular tubular organ that changes its internal configuration as it traverses different regions. Therefore, the pathology of each region is distinctive, and regional characteristics may influence exploration and treatment. We set out to perform detailed dissections of the male urethra and illustrate the regional specificity for each urethral segment. Therefore, we dissected the vesical cervix, showing both the normal appearance and the appearance of prostatic middle lobe adenoma. We dissected the prostatic urethra, showing the seminal colliculus, ejaculatory ducts, and prostatic utricle. We revealed the membranous urethra surrounded by the striated sphincter. We have shown the appearance of the spongy urethral bulb with its cul-de-sac appearance, the aspect of the urethral lacunae, the navicular fossa, and the external urethral meatus.

We performed cross-sections through the prostatic urethra as well as dissection of the bulbourethral glands at the level of the urogenital diaphragm. All the information obtained through dissection is illustrated in high-quality graphic form and correlated with clinical applications, making this work valuable teaching material.