Male Urethra 417 



the occurrence of the so-called swelled testicle, which generally comes 

 in a natural sequence of events. 



The membranous portion is between the two layers of the 

 triangular ligament, at about an inch below the symphysis. Because 

 of the backward projection of the bulb, the floor is rather shorter than 

 the roof. Around the mucous lining is a thin erectile layer, continuous 

 behind with the tissue of the veru montanum and in front with that of 

 the corpus spongiosum. More externally are pale muscular fibres, and 

 around all is the compressor urethras. 



The compressor urethrae is an arrangement of striated fibres 

 which sling up and encircle the urethra between the two layers of the 

 triangular ligament. It has a slender origin from the upper part of 

 each descending pubic ramus. It acts as a sphincter to the urethra, 

 and assists in erection by compressing the efferent veins of the corpus 

 spongiosum. Its nerve-supply is from the internal pudic. 



Spasmodic stricture may be the result of energetic contraction of 

 the compressor urethras, but such spasm must be of short duration. 

 ' I will tell you what spasmodic stricture often is. It is an exceed- 

 ingly useful excuse for the failure of instruments. It is " a refuge for 

 incompetence."' (Sir H. Thompson.) 



Coiuper's glands lie below the urethra, between the two layers of 

 the triangular ligament. Their slender ducts pass forward through 

 the anterior layer of the ligament to open upon the floor of the 

 bulbous portion of the urethra. 



The spongy portion measures about seven inches, the posterior 

 part being enclosed within the bulbous enlargement, the anterior 

 within the glans. 



The bulbous part of the urethra is very capacious ; externally it 

 is covered by the accelerator urinae. There is also a considerable 

 dilatation, the fossa navictdaris just behind the meatus urinarius. 

 The meatus is the narrowest part of the canal ; often it has to be 

 incised to admit an instrument which readily passes along the rest of 

 the urethra. Such incision should be made towards the frasnum 

 not upwards into the tissue of the glans. 



The junction of the membranous and bulbous portions of the 

 urethra is also narrow. A slender catheter is apt to leave the canal 

 in a false passage through the floor, and to pass up below the prostate 

 and bladder. By the left index finger in the rectum the error is 

 immediately recognised ; it is less likely to happen if the beak of the 

 catheter be kept along the roof of the canal ; and if this rule be 

 observed the instrument is less likely to hitch against the front of 

 the triangular ligament, or to be caught in the sinus pocularis. A full- 

 sized instrument is less likely to be intercepted than a fine one. 



Chronic inflammation (gleet) is apt to linger about the bulbous 

 part of the urethra, with the result that stricture is of frequent occur- 

 rence just in front of the triangular ligament. 



K K 



