External urethral orifice (female)
Encyclopedia
The external urethral orifice (urinary meatus
) is the external opening of the urethra
, from which urine
is ejected during urination
. It is placed about 2.5 cm behind the glans clitoridis and immediately in front of that of the vagina
; 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 ducts
.
Urinary meatus
The urinary meatus is an orifice of the urethra. It is the point at which urine and, in males, semen exits the urethra. The meatus features varying degrees of sensitivity to the touch among males and females....
) is the external opening of the urethra
Urethra
In anatomy, the urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the genitals for the removal of fluids out of the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine...
, from which urine
Urine
Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...
is ejected during urination
Urination
Urination, also known as micturition, voiding, peeing, weeing, pissing, and more rarely, emiction, is the ejection of urine from the urinary bladder through the urethra to the outside of the body. In healthy humans the process of urination is under voluntary control...
. It is placed about 2.5 cm behind the glans clitoridis and immediately in front of that of the vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
; 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 ducts
Skene's ducts
The Skene's ducts are a pair of ducts leading from the Skene's glands to the surface of the vulva, to the left and right of the urethral opening.Like the Skene's glands, they are named after Alexander Skene....
.