Urethral opening located behind the penis on the ventral surface?

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Hypospadias is a congenital defect characterized by the abnormal placement of the urethral meatus.
In this condition, the opening is located on the ventral (underside) of the penis, anywhere from the glans to the perineum.
It is often associated with an incomplete foreskin (dorsal hood) and a downward curvature of the penis (chordee).

Option A: Phimosis is the inability to retract the foreskin over the glans penis. It does not involve the location of the urethral opening.
Option B: Epispadias is the opposite of hypospadias. The urethral opening is located on the dorsal (upper) surface of the penis.
Option D: A hydrocele is a collection of fluid in the scrotum, causing swelling. It is unrelated to the position of the urethral meatus.

Visual 1: Diagram - A comparative illustration showing a normal penis, a penis with hypospadias (opening on the underside), and a penis with epispadias (opening on the top side). This visual helps to clearly differentiate the conditions based on the location of the urethral meatus.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Congenital anomalies of the male reproductive system as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A key nursing responsibility is to advise parents that a newborn with hypospadias should not be circumcised, as the foreskin is crucial for the surgical repair.
Post-operative care is critical and includes managing a urinary stent, preventing infection, and educating parents on the double-diapering method to protect the surgical site from stool.
What if? - If a newborn with hypospadias also has an undescended testicle, it is a red flag for a potential disorder of sex development (DSD), and further genetic and endocrine evaluation is necessary.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key anatomical terms in the question: 'Urethral opening', 'penis', and 'ventral surface'.
Understand that 'ventral' refers to the underside or front of the body. In this context, it means the underside of the penis.
Recall the definitions of the four conditions provided in the options.
Match the definition from the question stem to the correct medical term. Hypospadias is the condition where the urethral opening is on the ventral side.
Differentiate this from Epispadias, where the opening is on the dorsal (top) side, and from Phimosis (foreskin issue) and Hydrocele (scrotal swelling).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.