Final answer:
The male urethra differs from the female urethra in that it is part of both the urinary and reproductive systems, is longer, and has different anatomical regions and lining.
Step-by-step explanation:
One difference of the male urethra when compared to the female urethra is that the male urethra is part of two different body systems. In males, the urethra functions in both the urinary system to transport urine and in the reproductive system to transport semen. The male urethra is significantly longer than the female urethra, with an average length of about 20 cm compared to the female's average of about 4.8 cm. Additionally, the male urethra is divided into four regions: the preprostatic, prostatic, membranous, and spongy or penile urethra, with various parts lined by different types of epithelial cells, including transitional epithelium, pseudostratified columnar epithelium, and nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium. Mucus-producing glands are found along the length of the urethra, which help protect the epithelium from the corrosive effects of urine and during sexual stimulation, neutralize the usually acidic environment and lubricate the urethra.