urethra

u·re·thra   (yŏŏ-rē'thrə)    n.   pl. u·re·thras or u·re·thrae (-thrē) The canal through which urine is discharged from the bladder in most mammals and through which semen is discharged in the male. [Late Latin ūrēthra, from Greek ourēthra, from ourein, to urinate.] u·re'thral adj.

Main Entry: ure·thra
Pronunciation: yu-'rE-thr&
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural ure·thras or ure·thrae /-(")thrE/
: the canal that in most mammals carries off the urine from the bladder and in the male serves also as a genital duct —ure·thral /-thr&l/ adjective

urethra u·re·thra (y&oobreve;-rē'thrə)
n. pl. u·re·thras or u·re·thrae (-thrē)
The canal through which urine is discharged from the bladder in most mammals and through which semen is discharged in the male. Also called urogenital canal.

---

u·re'thral adj.

urethra   (y-rē'thrə)  Pronunciation Key  Plural urethras or urethrae (y-rē'thrē) The duct through which urine passes from the bladder to the outside of the body in most mammals and some fish and birds. In males, the urethra passes through the penis and also serves as the duct for the release of sperm, which enter the urethra from the vas deferens.

urethra

duct that transmits urine from the bladder to the exterior of the body during urination. The urethra is held closed by the urethral sphincter, a muscular structure that helps keep urine in the bladder until voiding can occur.

Learn more about urethra with a free trial on Britannica.com.