PHYSICAL WELLNESS

your exit tunnel

THE URETHRA

The urethra is the final passageway in your urinary system.
It’s the small but mighty tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body — the last step in the system’s cleaning cycle.Here’s what it helps with:

  • Acts as the exit path for urine

  • Works with sphincters to control flow (start/stop)

  • In males: also carries semen during ejaculation

  • Protects against backflow to keep infections from spreading upward

  • Provides a controlled release point for bladder emptying

URETHRA BASICS

Common Terms + Simple Definitions

Here’s a mini glossary for urethra related words you’ll see throughout the site:

External Urethral Sphincter - Voluntary muscle you tighten to “hold it in”

Internal Urethral Sphincter - Involuntary muscle at the bladder’s outlet

Female Urethra - Shorter tube (about 1.5 inches) — reason UTIs are more common in women

Male Urethra - Longer tube (about 8 inches), passes through prostate + penis

Urinary Incontinence - Loss of bladder control due to weak sphincters or muscles

WHAT THE URETHRA WORK WITH

THE URETHRA + OTHER SYSTEMS

  1. Bladder → Supplies the stored urine

  2. Urinary Sphincters → Ring-like muscles that allow voluntary control

  3. Nervous System → Coordinates timing of release

  4. Pelvic Floor Muscles → Provide support and added control

  5. Reproductive System (in males) → Shares the urethral pathway

A HealthY URETHRA…

Though small, the urethra plays a big role in comfort, dignity, and daily function.
It gives you precise control over when (and where) you release urine — something most of us don’t think about until there’s a problem.
Healthy urethra function helps prevent infections, supports continence, and completes the urinary system’s crucial job of cleansing the body.