a. [ad. mod.L. ūrēthrāl-is, or f. URETHR-A + -AL. Cf. F. uréthral, Pg. urethral, uretral.]
1. Anat. Of or pertaining to the urethra; constituting the urethra.
1835–6. Owen, in Todd’s Cycl. Anat., I. 354/1. There is no true urethral canal [in birds]. Ibid., 355/2. Prostatic or other urethral glands.
1857. Sir H. Thompson, Dis. Prostate (1861), 16. The urethral mucous membrane. Ibid. (1884), Tumours of Bladder, 25. For which purpose the small urethral incision suffices.
2. Path. Affecting or occurring in the urethra; resulting from operating on the urethra.
In frequent use since c. 1875.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxv. 309. The running and urethral inflammation.
1845. Encycl. Metrop., VII. 600/2. Urethral hæmorrhage is a flux of blood from the urethra.
1884. W. Pye, Surg. Handicraft, 466. This urethral fever, or urethral shivering,… is generally transient.
3. Adapted for, used in, operating on the urethra.
1852. Lancet, 7 Feb., 144/1. The prompt removal of strictures of the urinary canal with the urethral guide and tubes.
1861. Erichsen, Surg. (ed. 3), 1028. Urethral lithotrite.
1884. Knight, Dict. Mech., Suppl. 263/2. The urethral divulsor for obliterating strictures. Ibid., 551/2. Urethral forceps…. Urethral scoop.
