01 / Location & anatomical relationships
From the bladder outlet to an opening outside the body.
02 / Structure & organization
The urethra carries urine from the bladder to the external opening. Its length, surrounding tissues and subdivisions differ between typical male and female anatomy. In male anatomy, it also provides a passage for semen at a different time.
03 / Function
It leads from the bladder to an opening outside the body.
04 / Mechanism
The urethra provides urine with its final exit route. Sphincter muscles help control that exit. Its length and route vary with anatomy; in a penis it also carries semen at different times after puberty.
Working together: urinary system
Kidneys make urine, ureters carry it to the bladder, and the urethra provides the path out during urination.
Meet this body system →FOR DEEPER STUDY
Connect structure with function
The urethra is distinct from the paired ureters. Continence involves urethral support and sphincter activity coordinated with the bladder and pelvic floor.
Check your understanding
Locate the urethra in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Further reading: NIDDK: Your Kidneys & How They Work.
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.