Editing Urethra (section)

==Function==
===Urination===
{{See also|Urination}}
The urethra is the vessel through which urine passes after leaving the bladder. During urination, the smooth muscle lining the urethra relaxes in concert with bladder contraction(s) to forcefully expel the urine in a pressurized stream. Following this, the urethra re-establishes muscle tone by contracting the smooth muscle layer, and the bladder returns to a relaxed, quiescent state. Urethral smooth muscle cells are mechanically coupled to each other to coordinate mechanical force and electrical signaling in an organized, unitary fashion.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kyle BD | title = Ion Channels of the Mammalian Urethra | journal = Channels | volume = 8 | issue = 5 | pages = 393–401 | date = Aug 2014 | pmid = 25483582 | doi = 10.4161/19336950.2014.954224 | pmc=4594508}}</ref>

===Ejaculation===
The male urethra is the conduit for [[semen]] during [[orgasm]].<ref name="Wake1992"/> Urine is removed before ejaculation by [[pre-ejaculate]] fluid &ndash; called Cowper's fluid &ndash; from the bulbourethral gland.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Killick |first1=Stephen R. |last2=Leary |first2=Christine |last3=Trussell |first3=James |last4=Guthrie |first4=Katherine A. |title=Sperm content of pre-ejaculatory fluid |journal=Human Fertility |date=15 December 2010 |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=48–52 |doi=10.3109/14647273.2010.520798 |pmid=21155689 |pmc=3564677 }}</ref><ref name="chughtai">{{Cite journal|vauthors=Chughtai B, Sawas A, O'Malley RL, Naik RR, Ali Khan S, Pentyala S |title=A neglected gland: a review of Cowper's gland |journal=Int. J. Androl. |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=74–7 |date=April 2005 |pmid=15811067 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2605.2005.00499.x |s2cid=32553227 |doi-access=free }}</ref>