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[[File:Illu penis.jpg|thumb|Urinary meatus in the penis]]
{{WikipediaQuote |URL=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urinary_meatus |title=Urinary meatus}}
The '''urinary meatus''', also known as the '''external urethral orifice''', is the opening of the [[urethra]]. (Meatus refers to a tubular opening or passage in the body. From Latin '''meātus''': ''a course, passing''.) It is the point where [[urine]] exits the urethra in both sexes and where semen exits the urethra in males. The meatus has varying degrees of sensitivity to touch. The meatus is located on the [[glans penis|glans of the penis]] or in the vulval vestibule.
==In human males==
[[File:Male anatomy en.svg|thumb|left|Drawing of the male internal sexual anatomy]]
The male '''external urethral orifice''' is the external opening or urinary meatus, normally located at the tip of the [[glans penis]], at its junction with the [[frenular delta]]. It presents as a vertical slit, possibly bounded on either side by two small labia-like projections, and continues longitudinally along the front aspect of the [[glans]], which facilitates the flow of urine [[micturition]]. In some cases, the opening may be more rounded. This can occur naturally or may also occur as a side effect of excessive skin removal during circumcision. The meatus is a sensitive part of the [[male reproductive system]].
[[Meatal stenosis]] is a late complication of circumcision, which occurs in about 10–20 percent of newborn circumcised boys after the loss of the protection of the [[foreskin]].<ref name ="CPS">{{REFjournal
|last=Sorokan
|init=SK
|last2=Finlay
|init2=JC
|last3=Jefferies
|init3=A
|title=Newborn male circumcision
|journal=Paediatr Child Health
|date=2015
|volume=20
|issue=6
|pages=311–5
|url=http://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/circumcision
|DOI=10.1093/pch/20.6.311
|pubmedID=26435672
|pubmedCID=4578472
}}</ref><br clear=left>
==In human females==
[[File:Female anatomy with g-spot-en.svg|thumb|left|Lateral anatomy view of the female reproductive system]]
The female '''external urethral orifice''' is the external opening of the [[urethra]], from which [[urine]] is ejected during [[urination]]. It is located about 2.5 cm (1 in) behind the [[clitoris]] and immediately in front of the [[vagina]] in the vulval vestibule. It usually assumes the form of a short, sagittal cleft with slightly raised margins. To its left and right are the openings of the Skene's glands.
Some evidence exists to suggest that the clitoral-urinary meatus distance (CUMD) in human females relates to the ease with which the female may achieve [[orgasm]] through [[penetrative sex]]. Orgasm from penetration alone is observed to be more likely as CUMD decreases.<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Wallen
|first=Kim
|init=K
|last2=Lloyd
|first2=Elisabeth A.
|init2=EA
|date=2017-03-13
|title=Female Sexual Arousal: Genital Anatomy and Orgasm in Intercourse
|journal=Hormones and Behavior
|volume=59
|issue=5
|pages=780–92
|DOI=10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.12.004
|ISSN=0018-506X
|pubmedCID=3894744
|pubmedID=21195073
}}</ref>
Evidence also suggests that decreased distance from the vaginal opening to the urethral meatus is associated with recurrent post-coital urinary tract infections. <ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Gyftopoulos
|init=K
|last2=Matkaris
|init2=M
|date=2019
|title=Clinical implications of the anatomical position of the urethra meatus in women with recurrent post-coital cystitis: a case-control study
|journal=Int Urogynecol J
|volume=30
|issue=8
|pages=1351-7
|DOI=10.1007/s00192-018-3710-7
|pubmedID=29968091
}}</ref> Surgical repositioning of the distal urethra to prevent recurrent post-coital urinary tract infections has been employed with some success by Russian physicians.<ref>{{REFbook
|last=Sumerova
|first=Natalia
|init=N
|last2=Pushkar
|first2=Dmitry
|init2=D
|last3=Gvozdev
|first3=Mikhail
|init3=M
|date=2011-09-06
|chapter=Transposition of Distal Urethra in Female Patients with Recurrent Lower UTI Associated with Sexual Intercourse
|title=Clinical Management of Complicated Urinary Tract Infection
|url=https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/19325
|editor=Ahmad Nikibakhsh
|publisher=IntechOpen
|DOI=10.5772/22301
}}</ref><br clear=left>
==Clinical significance==
Congenital disorders of the meatus, in the male, include [[epispadias]] (the misplacement to the upper aspect) and [[hypospadias]] (the misplacement to the underside of the penis). A congenital misshaping can result in its narrowing ([[meatal stenosis]]), causing a partial or total urinary blockage or the bifurcation of the urinary stream. A urethral blockage can also be caused by foreign material, kidney stones, or bladder stones (lithiasis).
==Additional images==
<gallery>
Male urinary meatus.jpg|The male urinary meatus viewed externally
Skenes gland.jpg|The female urinary meatus viewed externally, with surrounding structures labelled
</gallery>
{{REF}}
[[Category:Term]]
{{WikipediaQuote |URL=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urinary_meatus |title=Urinary meatus}}
The '''urinary meatus''', also known as the '''external urethral orifice''', is the opening of the [[urethra]]. (Meatus refers to a tubular opening or passage in the body. From Latin '''meātus''': ''a course, passing''.) It is the point where [[urine]] exits the urethra in both sexes and where semen exits the urethra in males. The meatus has varying degrees of sensitivity to touch. The meatus is located on the [[glans penis|glans of the penis]] or in the vulval vestibule.
==In human males==
[[File:Male anatomy en.svg|thumb|left|Drawing of the male internal sexual anatomy]]
The male '''external urethral orifice''' is the external opening or urinary meatus, normally located at the tip of the [[glans penis]], at its junction with the [[frenular delta]]. It presents as a vertical slit, possibly bounded on either side by two small labia-like projections, and continues longitudinally along the front aspect of the [[glans]], which facilitates the flow of urine [[micturition]]. In some cases, the opening may be more rounded. This can occur naturally or may also occur as a side effect of excessive skin removal during circumcision. The meatus is a sensitive part of the [[male reproductive system]].
[[Meatal stenosis]] is a late complication of circumcision, which occurs in about 10–20 percent of newborn circumcised boys after the loss of the protection of the [[foreskin]].<ref name ="CPS">{{REFjournal
|last=Sorokan
|init=SK
|last2=Finlay
|init2=JC
|last3=Jefferies
|init3=A
|title=Newborn male circumcision
|journal=Paediatr Child Health
|date=2015
|volume=20
|issue=6
|pages=311–5
|url=http://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/circumcision
|DOI=10.1093/pch/20.6.311
|pubmedID=26435672
|pubmedCID=4578472
}}</ref><br clear=left>
==In human females==
[[File:Female anatomy with g-spot-en.svg|thumb|left|Lateral anatomy view of the female reproductive system]]
The female '''external urethral orifice''' is the external opening of the [[urethra]], from which [[urine]] is ejected during [[urination]]. It is located about 2.5 cm (1 in) behind the [[clitoris]] and immediately in front of the [[vagina]] in the vulval vestibule. It usually assumes the form of a short, sagittal cleft with slightly raised margins. To its left and right are the openings of the Skene's glands.
Some evidence exists to suggest that the clitoral-urinary meatus distance (CUMD) in human females relates to the ease with which the female may achieve [[orgasm]] through [[penetrative sex]]. Orgasm from penetration alone is observed to be more likely as CUMD decreases.<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Wallen
|first=Kim
|init=K
|last2=Lloyd
|first2=Elisabeth A.
|init2=EA
|date=2017-03-13
|title=Female Sexual Arousal: Genital Anatomy and Orgasm in Intercourse
|journal=Hormones and Behavior
|volume=59
|issue=5
|pages=780–92
|DOI=10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.12.004
|ISSN=0018-506X
|pubmedCID=3894744
|pubmedID=21195073
}}</ref>
Evidence also suggests that decreased distance from the vaginal opening to the urethral meatus is associated with recurrent post-coital urinary tract infections. <ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Gyftopoulos
|init=K
|last2=Matkaris
|init2=M
|date=2019
|title=Clinical implications of the anatomical position of the urethra meatus in women with recurrent post-coital cystitis: a case-control study
|journal=Int Urogynecol J
|volume=30
|issue=8
|pages=1351-7
|DOI=10.1007/s00192-018-3710-7
|pubmedID=29968091
}}</ref> Surgical repositioning of the distal urethra to prevent recurrent post-coital urinary tract infections has been employed with some success by Russian physicians.<ref>{{REFbook
|last=Sumerova
|first=Natalia
|init=N
|last2=Pushkar
|first2=Dmitry
|init2=D
|last3=Gvozdev
|first3=Mikhail
|init3=M
|date=2011-09-06
|chapter=Transposition of Distal Urethra in Female Patients with Recurrent Lower UTI Associated with Sexual Intercourse
|title=Clinical Management of Complicated Urinary Tract Infection
|url=https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/19325
|editor=Ahmad Nikibakhsh
|publisher=IntechOpen
|DOI=10.5772/22301
}}</ref><br clear=left>
==Clinical significance==
Congenital disorders of the meatus, in the male, include [[epispadias]] (the misplacement to the upper aspect) and [[hypospadias]] (the misplacement to the underside of the penis). A congenital misshaping can result in its narrowing ([[meatal stenosis]]), causing a partial or total urinary blockage or the bifurcation of the urinary stream. A urethral blockage can also be caused by foreign material, kidney stones, or bladder stones (lithiasis).
==Additional images==
<gallery>
Male urinary meatus.jpg|The male urinary meatus viewed externally
Skenes gland.jpg|The female urinary meatus viewed externally, with surrounding structures labelled
</gallery>
{{REF}}
[[Category:Term]]