REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS IN THE MAI^E. 297 



fied squamous, and directly continuous with the 

 skin. The rest of this portion is lined by columnar 

 pseudo-stratified epithelium with two or more rows 

 of nuclei. 



The whole length of the urethra, excepting its distal 

 end, is beset with small racemose mucous glands called 

 glands of Littre. These vary much in size, some 

 of them being sacculated. Most of them open in the 

 floor of the urethra, their ducts passing obliquely for- 

 ward through the lining membrane. In urethral infec- 

 tions these glands become involved, as a rule, which 

 increases the difficulty of eliminating the disease. 



The Urethra in the Female. The female urethra 

 is about one and one-half inches in length, and cor- 

 responds to the male urethra between the bladder 

 and the opening of the ejaculatory ducts. It is 

 directed downward and forward parallel to the an- 

 terior wall of the vagina, to which it is attached. 

 The transverse diameter of the closed tube is about 

 one-fourth inch, but it is capable of great disten- 

 tion, sufficient to admit the index finger. The ex- 

 ternal orifice, or meatus, is a vertical slit with prom- 

 inent margins, on which may be seen the orifices of 

 two small glands, called Skene's glands. The latter 

 are subject to infection in urethral disturbances and 

 often give rise to severe irritations. 



THE PROSTATE GLAND. 



The prostate gland is a muscular as well as glandu- 

 lar organ that surrounds the prostatic portion of the 

 male urethra. It atrophies in the adult after cas- 



