What is the second part of the male urethra and where does it pass?

What is the second part of the male urethra and where does it pass?

• A. Intramural part passes through bladder neck
• B. Prostatic part traverses the prostate; originates in bladder neck region, courses inferiorly and terminates at the membranous urethra
• C. Membranous part begins at base of prostate
• D. Spongy part ends at external meatus

Answer: (B)

The first segment of the male urethra runs through the bladder neck, but the next part—the second segment—is the prostatic urethra. This portion traverses the prostate gland, starting near the bladder neck and continuing downward through the gland, and it ends where it becomes the membranous urethra. The prostatic urethra is the widened, concretely defined portion that also receives the openings of the prostatic ducts and, in many males, gives access to the openings of the ejaculatory ducts. The other statements describe either the intramural part (which passes through the bladder neck), or the membranous part (which begins at the apex of the prostate, not at the base), or the spongy part (which runs to the external meatus).

The first segment of the male urethra runs through the bladder neck, but the next part—the second segment—is the prostatic urethra. This portion traverses the prostate gland, starting near the bladder neck and continuing downward through the gland, and it ends where it becomes the membranous urethra. The prostatic urethra is the widened, concretely defined portion that also receives the openings of the prostatic ducts and, in many males, gives access to the openings of the ejaculatory ducts. The other statements describe either the intramural part (which passes through the bladder neck), or the membranous part (which begins at the apex of the prostate, not at the base), or the spongy part (which runs to the external meatus).