[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Paul B. at 13 Oct 2001 13:34:27: Meatus - final countdown!
As an answer to: Re: Meatus-for PaulB,final version! corection written by jake at 13 Oct 2001 11:48:32:
> If I pull lips aside in sunlight I see a small line not circle at the end,
The first 10 mm or so of the urethra from the end of the penis, closes by coming together side-to-side, so that when you pull the lips apart you naturally see the further section closing side-to-side, as a vertical line. About 8 to 10 mm inside (further than you can see just by pulling the lips apart), there is a little space called the "fossa navicularis" which means "boat-shaped space" (since a boat has in fact, a vertical prow and a flat stern) behind which the urethra closes top-to-bottom and therefore if seen into would appear as a horizontal line, but you cannot see that without a special instrument.
> not at the side of each lips,which leftover of urin, only that I haven't pee for 10 hours.
After you pee, the urethra springs shut and flattens out, pushing most of the urine out (which is good, as it keeps bacteria out and prevents infection of the urine). Tiny (invisible) glands produce some mucous to keep it clean, and if you see a "shiny" appearance it is more this mucous than urine at that stage. But because it flattens out, you cannot see a circular "tunnel" but instead the horizontal line where top meets bottom.
> Or is this thing (lining) on the each side of the meatal lips, just more deep inside
Just as I said, what you can see on the inside of the meatal lips is virtually the same all the way along the inside.
> I can see some really small red things on one side of the meatal lips?
That probably is the tiny blood vessels that I mention. You don't expect to see them as blood vessels without a magnifying instrument.
You say you are concerned about meatal stenosis. If you find a blunt, rounded object of the size of a common black graphite drawing pencil, either the type of such pencil that has a rounded end coated with shiny paint, not a flat end, or the blunt rounded end of a ball-point pen (not of course the end that writes) that is no larger than the black drawing pencil (seven millimetres in diameter), then that blunt end, lubricated with saliva (spit) should fit 5 mm (five millimetres) into your urethral opening. If it will fit that far (I am not in any way suggesting you try any further than 5 mm), then you do not have meatal stenosis.
But again, Jim and I wonder why you are concerned you might have meatal stenosis? What have you been doing that you might be worried about? That is the really important question.