Urethral Sphincter

Definition: Urethral Sphincter

Urethral Sphincter

Noun

1. A striated sphincter muscle that constricts the urethra.

Specialty Definition: Urethral sphincter

In mammals the flow of urine from the bladder is controlled by a group of muscles collectively called the urethral sphincter, named for their proximity to the urethra. Both sexes have at least two areas of muscle: the internal sphincter, or bladder neck; and the external, or distal, sphincter.

In males the internal and external urethral sphincters are more powerful, able to retain urine for twice as long as females, and are furthermore backed up by the tertiary rings of urethral sphincters along the length of the penis.

Both sexes can use the levator ani, the voluntary muscle of the pelvic floor, to control urination. In females this muscle is more important because of the weakness of the urethral sphincters. Kegel exercises are a form of exercise intended to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

Urinary incontinence is the inability to control urination, and is more common in women than men.

There are anecdotal reports that many men, although able to control the onset of urination, are unable to stop urinating once they have started. It is uncertain whether this is a common phenomenon in real life.

Non-Fiction Usage: Urethral Sphincter

Subject	Topic	Quote
Health		Volume of urine leakage is generally modest at each occurrence and, in uncomplicated cases, postvoid residual volume is low. Stress incontinence has many causes, including direct anatomic damage to the urethral sphincter (sphincteric incontinence), which may lead to severe, continuous leakage, and weakening of bladder neck supports, as is often associated with parity. (references)
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Anagrams: Urethral Sphincter

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams
	Words within the letters "a-c-e-e-h-h-i-l-n-p-r-r-r-s-t-t-u"
	-4 letters: leprechaunish.
	-5 letters: intercluster, interrupters, therapeutics, ultraprecise, unhealthiest.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.