The length of the male urethra

Nathan Liu,Manoj Monga,Ankur Manvar,Tobias. S. Kohler,Mitchell Yadven

doi:10.1590/s1677-55382008000400007

Nathan Liu, Manoj Monga + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1677-55382008000400007

Copy DOI

Abstract

Catheter-based medical devices are an important component of the urologic armamentarium. To our knowledge, there is no population-based data regarding normal male urethral length. We evaluated the length of the urethra in men with normal genitourinary anatomy undergoing either Foley catheter removal or standard cystoscopy. Male urethral length was obtained in 109 men. After study permission was obtained, the subject's penis was placed on a gentle stretch and the catheter was marked at the tip of the penis. The catheter was then removed and the distance from the mark to the beginning of the re-inflated balloon was measured. Alternatively, urethral length was measured at the time of cystoscopy, on removal of the cystoscope. Data on age, weight, and height was obtained in patients when possible. The mean urethral length was 22.3 cm with a standard deviation of 2.4 cm. Urethral length varied between 15 cm and 29 cm. No statistically significant correlation was found between urethral length and height, weight, body mass index (BMI), or age. Literature documenting the length of the normal male adult urethra is scarce. Our data adds to basic anatomic information of the male urethra and may be used to optimize genitourinary device design.

Highlights

The Egyptians developed the first use of catheters by using an instrument made of reed that was inserted like a plug
Modern day catheter use is ubiquitous and catheter-based medical devices are an important component of the urologic armamentarium
No statistically significant correlation was found between urethral length and weight, height, body mass index (BMI), or age utilizing Pearson’s correlation 2-tailed test (Table-2)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The Egyptians developed the first use of catheters by using an instrument made of reed that was inserted like a plug. The Greeks further developed this katheter by using a hollow metal tube inserted into the male urethra to empty the bladder. Since its development in 1935, use of Frederick Foley’s urethral catheter has remained pervasive with little modification to its design. One would expect further novel catheter use in the future, and perhaps a departure from the standard Foley design to optimize bladder drainage, minimize cost and improve patient comfort. As such, defining the mean length of the male urethra is critical. Despite an extensive online literature search and review of anatomic atlases, only one reference to the anatomic length of the male urethra was found. A second study reported that the average prostatic urethral length was 2.4 cm (3). A more detailed anatomical study reports the urethral length for an infant male to be 5.6 cm (4)

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

CONCLUSION

McCallum RW

Parker AE