Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the external body, allowing urine to be expelled from the body. In males, it also serves as a passageway for semen during ejaculation.
Related terms
Urinary bladder: A muscular sac in the pelvis that stores urine before it leaves the body through the urethra.
Kidney: An organ that filters blood to remove waste products and excess water, forming urine.
Sphincter muscles: Circular muscles that help control the expulsion of urine from the bladder through the urethra by opening and closing