Musculus Dilatator Urethrae

Abstract

The ventral longitudinal urethra musculature is widely ignored in the anatomical literature. In his Handbuch der systematischen Anatomie des Menschen, Henle (1866) writes that the trigonal musculature continues into the urethra. The longitudinal fibre layer of the urethra is stated to be 0.3 mm thick. Waldeyer (1899) also describes the continuation of the trigonal musculature into the urethra.

“The urethra, which connects the bladder to the exterior, is a highly complex organ. This is true whether one considers its function, its structure or the mechanisms involved in its control, and it applies both to the male and the female. Nevertheless the majority of normal humans are probably totally unaware of the complexities of the system. However, when something goes wrong, the importance of a perfectly functioning outflow tract is immediately apparent, and the considerable difficulties both for the patient and the clinician in improving the function lead to an appreciation of just how complex the system is, and how little we really understand it.” (Brading 1999)