Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026

An Optimized Method To Isolate Female Mouse Urethral Epithelium For Single-Cell And Immunofluorescence Analysis
Published on: June 12, 2026
Observations on the function of the female urethra: III: An overview with special reference to the relation between
Erik Schick1, Martine Jolivet-Tremblay, Jocelyne Tessier
1Division of Urology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada. eschick@videotron.ca
Aims:
To analyze the relation between urethral hypermobility and urethral incompetence, and to summarize the interdependence between maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP), urethral hypermobility, and urethral incompetence.
Patients And Methods:
A group of 255 patients was selected from a large bank of cases. Inclusion criteria were age 20 years or above, no neurological disease, stable bladder, and no previous incontinence surgery or hysterectomy. The degree of hypermobility (cysto-urethrocele) and the degree of urethral incompetence (abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP)) were determined. Statistical analyses between urethral hypermobility and incompetence were performed with Spearman's correlation and the Jonckherre-Terpstra test.
Results:
The Spearman's rank correlation test showed a statistically significant relation between urethral hypermobility and the degree of urethral incompetence (P = 0.0049).
Conclusions:
The statistically significant relation between urethral incompetence and hypermobility suggests that urethral incompetence will increase as the degree of urethral hypermobility does. Optimal conditions for urinary continence include a high maximum urethral closure pressure, absence of hypermobility, and a low degree of urethral incompetence. This last factor is assured by a strong support underneath the urethra permitting compression of the latter during straining. Failure of the urethral closure mechanism is highly probable with a diminished maximum closure pressure accompanied by urethral hypermobility often associated with a high degree of urethral incompetence. Clinically significant urinary incontinence may appear in many intermediate circumstances between these two extreme states, but stress urinary incontinence is essentially an activity-related phenomenon.
Related Concept Videos
Urethra
The anatomy of the urethra differs between males and females. In females, the urethra is short, measuring about 3–4 cm in length, and opens anterior to the vaginal opening. In males, the urethra is longer and passes through the penis, serving dual purposes: expelling urine and ejaculating semen. The male urethra is...
Anatomy of the Genitourinary System II: Bladder and Urethra
Urinary Bladder
In males, the bladder is situated in front of the rectum, while in females, it is positioned anterior to the vagina and uterus. The bladder floor contains an inverted triangular area called the trigone, defined by the two ureteric...
Ureters
Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract
Urodynamic Studies: Uroflowmetry

