A post-mortem study of the urethral anatomy following gonorrhoea is presented. The different specimens examined demonstrated lesions ranging from microscopic submucosal scars to fully developed urethral strictures. In every specimen extensive squamous metaplasia of the surface epithelium was present. It is postulated that overstretching of this unsupported squamous epithelium during voiding causes microscopic epithelial tears and that the accumulation of the subsequent microscopic scars leads to the formation of a urethral stricture. Bacterial infection does not seem to play any part in the genesis of the stricture.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.