URETHRAL SPHINCTER Meaning and
Definition
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The urethral sphincter is a muscular structure that surrounds and controls the opening of the urethra. The urethra is a tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. This sphincter acts as a valve to regulate the flow of urine from the bladder. It is responsible for maintaining continence, or preventing the involuntary escape of urine from the bladder.
There are two main types of urethral sphincters: the internal urethral sphincter and the external urethral sphincter. The internal urethral sphincter is made up of smooth muscle fibers and is located at the base of the bladder where the urethra begins. It functions involuntarily, meaning we do not have conscious control over its contractions.
By contrast, the external urethral sphincter is made up of skeletal muscle fibers and is located at the end of the urethra, closer to the outside of the body. It functions voluntarily, meaning we can consciously contract and relax this muscle to control the flow of urine.
Overall, the urethral sphincter plays a crucial role in maintaining urinary continence and preventing urinary incontinence. Dysfunction of this sphincter can lead to issues such as urinary retention or urinary leakage, and can be caused by various conditions, including neurological disorders, trauma, or muscle weakness.
Common Misspellings for URETHRAL SPHINCTER
- yrethral sphincter
- hrethral sphincter
- jrethral sphincter
- irethral sphincter
- 8rethral sphincter
- 7rethral sphincter
- ueethral sphincter
- udethral sphincter
- ufethral sphincter
- utethral sphincter
- u5ethral sphincter
- u4ethral sphincter
- urwthral sphincter
- ursthral sphincter
- urdthral sphincter
- urrthral sphincter
- ur4thral sphincter
- ur3thral sphincter
- urerhral sphincter
Etymology of URETHRAL SPHINCTER
The word "urethral" is derived from the Latin word "urethra", which means "urethra". The term "sphincter" comes from the Greek word "sphíngktēr", meaning "band" or "sphincter muscle". A sphincter is a circular muscle that acts as a valve, opening and closing a bodily passage. In the context of the "urethral sphincter", it refers to the muscle that surrounds and controls the opening and closing of the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to be expelled from the body. The combined term "urethral sphincter" thus describes the muscular structure that regulates the flow of urine through the urethra.
Similar spelling word for URETHRAL SPHINCTER
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