The urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the urinary meatus for the removal of urine from the body. In males, the urethra travels through the phallus and also carries semen. In females, the urethra connects to the urinary meatus above the vagina. In the male, the urethra is about 8 inches (20 cm) long and opens at the end of the external urethral meatus. In the female, the urethra is about 1.9 inches (4.8 cm) to 2 inches (5.1 cm) long. The urethra is the vessel through which urine passes after leaving the bladder.