THE UKETHRA 



453 



tissue which contains many broad \enous channels and forms a sort 

 of spongy erectile tissue. This erectile coat is surrounded by a thin 

 muscular coat whose innermost fibers, longitudinal in direction, are 

 continued outward to the nieatus, and whose outer circular fibers, de- 



wm-r&w 

 Mimm/m 



. 



' ~ 



? ' ' 



'' '* ' 



FIG. 417. TRANSECTION OF THE FEMALE URETHRA. 



d, gland-like diverticulum ; e, urethral epithelium; L, urethral lumen; m, striated 

 fibers of the urethral muscle; s, erectile tissue of the tunica propria, containing 

 many venous spaces and smooth muscle fibers. X 10. (After Kolliker.) 



ficieut toward the nieatus, are often slightly thickened near the neck 

 of the bladder to form an indistinct sphincter urethra? muscle. This 

 coat contains occasional striated muscle fibers. The female urethra 

 is scantily supplied with nirlliral glands which open near the nieatus 

 and supply a meager mucoid secretion. 



