Rigidity of the resting female urethra. Part I. Static measurements.

A new probe was used to examine 16 female volunteers. The probe makes possible recording of related values of induced increasing and decreasing urethral pressures, and cross-sectional area in the resting female urethra. From diagrams showing these relationships urethral rigidity, defined as the change in urethral pressure divided by the change in cross-sectional area, and urethral hysteresis can be calculated. The study demonstrates the quantities and the significance of urethral rigidity and hysteresis during pressure measurements in the urethra.