Urethra: Female
The female urethra is much shorter than in males (3-5 cm in length), and its mucosa is thrown into longitudinal folds. The transitional epithelium present as the urethra exits the bladder transitions to stratified squamous, such as seen here. The lamina propria contains a venous plexus similar to the male corpus spongiosum. In addition to two layers of smooth muscle (inner longitudinal and outer circular), an outermost layer of circular, skeletal muscle is present at the distal end. 200x, 400x
Area shown at higher magnification
The female urethra is much shorter than in males (3-5 cm in length), and its mucosa is thrown into longitudinal folds. The transitional epithelium present as the urethra exits the bladder transitions to stratified squamous, such as seen here. The lamina propria contains a venous plexus similar to the male corpus spongiosum. In addition to two layers of smooth muscle (inner longitudinal and outer circular), an outermost layer of circular, skeletal muscle is present at the distal end. 200x, 400x
Urethra
The female urethra is much shorter than in males (3-5 cm in length), and its mucosa is thrown into longitudinal folds. The transitional epithelium present as the urethra exits the bladder transitions to stratified squamous, such as seen here. The lamina propria contains a venous plexus similar to the male corpus spongiosum. In addition to two layers of smooth muscle (inner longitudinal and outer circular), an outermost layer of circular, skeletal muscle is present at the distal end. 200x, 400x
- Stratified squamous moist epithelium
The female urethra is much shorter than in males (3-5 cm in length), and its mucosa is thrown into longitudinal folds. The transitional epithelium present as the urethra exits the bladder transitions to stratified squamous, such as seen here. The lamina propria contains a venous plexus similar to the male corpus spongiosum. In addition to two layers of smooth muscle (inner longitudinal and outer circular), an outermost layer of circular, skeletal muscle is present at the distal end. 200x, 400x
- Lamina propria
The female urethra is much shorter than in males (3-5 cm in length), and its mucosa is thrown into longitudinal folds. The transitional epithelium present as the urethra exits the bladder transitions to stratified squamous, such as seen here. The lamina propria contains a venous plexus similar to the male corpus spongiosum. In addition to two layers of smooth muscle (inner longitudinal and outer circular), an outermost layer of circular, skeletal muscle is present at the distal end. 200x, 400x
-- Venous plexus
The female urethra is much shorter than in males (3-5 cm in length), and its mucosa is thrown into longitudinal folds. The transitional epithelium present as the urethra exits the bladder transitions to stratified squamous, such as seen here. The lamina propria contains a venous plexus similar to the male corpus spongiosum. In addition to two layers of smooth muscle (inner longitudinal and outer circular), an outermost layer of circular, skeletal muscle is present at the distal end. 200x, 400x
- Smooth muscle
The female urethra is much shorter than in males (3-5 cm in length), and its mucosa is thrown into longitudinal folds. The transitional epithelium present as the urethra exits the bladder transitions to stratified squamous, such as seen here. The lamina propria contains a venous plexus similar to the male corpus spongiosum. In addition to two layers of smooth muscle (inner longitudinal and outer circular), an outermost layer of circular, skeletal muscle is present at the distal end. 200x, 400x
- Skeletal muscle
The female urethra is much shorter than in males (3-5 cm in length), and its mucosa is thrown into longitudinal folds. The transitional epithelium present as the urethra exits the bladder transitions to stratified squamous, such as seen here. The lamina propria contains a venous plexus similar to the male corpus spongiosum. In addition to two layers of smooth muscle (inner longitudinal and outer circular), an outermost layer of circular, skeletal muscle is present at the distal end. 200x, 400x
Image source >
Images were taken from a slide in the Drexel University slide collection.
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