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Stricture of the Urethra

urethral, tion, deposit and inflammation

STRICTURE OF THE URETHRA.

Stricture of the male urethra is by far the most important of all the surgical diseases of the genitourinary apparatus. It is of im portance not only because of its extreme frequency, the special condi tion which most often gives rise to it affecting sooner or later h large proportion of male humanity, but because of its important relations to secondary pathological conditions of organs more vital than the structure primarily affected.

Stricture of the urethra may be defined as an abnormal diminu tion of the lumen of the canal at one or more points or throughout its entire course, clue to any cause whatsoever, whether temporary or permanent. It may arise from any of the following conditions : 1. Pressure from without, clue to (a) neoplastic formations; (b) extravasations of blood or urine from injury; (c) purulent collec tions and infiltration; (c1) fracture of the pelvic bones.

2. Spasm of the muscles in and about the urethra, due to (a) direct irritation by lesions of the canal; (h) direct or reflex irritation from foreign bodies in the canal; (c) reflex irritation from more or less remote pathological conditions; (c/) the introduction of instruments; (e) emotional excitement; (f) malaria(?) ; (g) highly acid and con centrated urine, and occasionally oxaluria and gravel.

3. Congestive or inflammatory engorgement of the urethra, due to (a) acute urethritis ; (b) traumatism of the urethra; (c) inflamma tion in and about organic obstructions.

4. Thickening of the urethral walls, due to (a) congestive and granular patches in the mucous membrane, i.e., superficial infiltra tion from chronic inflammation; (b) plastic infiltration and formation of connective tissue in the meshes of the corpus spongiosum from severe and long-continued inflammation; (c) cicatricial deposit in the corpus spongiosum and urethral walls incidental to traumatism ; (d) cicatricial deposit due to the action of various caustics and powerful irritants; (e) cicatricial deposit following ulceration or sloughing produced by the impaction of foreign bodies.

5. Deficient elasticity of the urethral walls and corpus spongio sum : (a) From congenital sparsity of elastic and muscular fibre and a preponderance of fibro-connective tissue; (b) from inflammation.

6. Congenital narrowing of the urethra, or slight atresia from de fective fcetal development.

7. Polypi of the urethral mucous membrane.

From "Twentieth Century Practice: An International Encyclopedia of Modern Medical Science by Leading Authorities of Europe and America, Volume 1: Diseases of the Uropoietic System" by Thomas Lathrop Stedman (1895) This site and its services are for consumer educational and informational use only. Nothing contained in this site is or should be considered, or used as a substitute for, professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This site and its services do not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other professional health care advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard, avoid or delay in obtaining professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on this site.