External urinary sphincter

Definition

The external urinary sphincter is a circular muscle that controls the passage of urine out of the bladder and through the urethra. It is voluntarily controlled, enabling the decision to start or stop urination.

Related terms

Urethra: The tube that carries urine from the bladder to be expelled from the body.

Internal Urinary Sphincter: An involuntary muscle that controls flow of urine from the bladder into the urethra.

Micturition: The process of urination or voiding urine from the bladder