Which anomaly presents with a ventral urethral opening located on the glans, penile shaft, scrotum, or perineum?

Which anomaly presents with a ventral urethral opening located on the glans, penile shaft, scrotum, or perineum?

• A. Epispadias
• B. Hypospadias
• C. Peyronie Disease
• D. Hydrocele

Answer: (B)

This question tests recognizing hypospadias, a congenital anomaly where the urethral opening is on the ventral (underside) surface of the penis. It occurs when the urethral folds do not fuse properly along the ventral side during embryologic development, so the meatus ends up not at the tip but somewhere along the glans, penile shaft, or even back toward the scrotum or perineum. Because the opening is on the underside, the uro-genital tract presents a ventral urethral meatus rather than a normal distal tip. This is distinct from epispadias, which has a dorsal (upper surface) opening of the urethra. Peyronie disease involves fibrous plaques causing curvature of the penis, not the location of the urethral opening. A hydrocele is a fluid collection around the testicle, unrelated to where the urethral opening is. Hypospadias can be categorized by where the meatus is—glanular, penile shaft, penoscrotal, scrotal, or perineal—and is sometimes accompanied by penile curvature (chordee) that may require correction.

This question tests recognizing hypospadias, a congenital anomaly where the urethral opening is on the ventral (underside) surface of the penis. It occurs when the urethral folds do not fuse properly along the ventral side during embryologic development, so the meatus ends up not at the tip but somewhere along the glans, penile shaft, or even back toward the scrotum or perineum. Because the opening is on the underside, the uro-genital tract presents a ventral urethral meatus rather than a normal distal tip.

This is distinct from epispadias, which has a dorsal (upper surface) opening of the urethra. Peyronie disease involves fibrous plaques causing curvature of the penis, not the location of the urethral opening. A hydrocele is a fluid collection around the testicle, unrelated to where the urethral opening is. Hypospadias can be categorized by where the meatus is—glanular, penile shaft, penoscrotal, scrotal, or perineal—and is sometimes accompanied by penile curvature (chordee) that may require correction.