urogenital

The term urogenital refers to the organs and functions related to urine formation, storage and excretion, together with the genital or reproductive organs. In medical use, the urogenital tract encompasses both urinary and reproductive systems and the conditions that affect them.

The urinary tract consists of kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The reproductive organs differ by sex: in males, the testes, epididymides, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, and penis; in females, the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, and external genitalia. The male urethra serves both urinary and reproductive roles; in females it transmits urine only.

Developmentally, the urogenital system originates from the intermediate mesoderm. The kidneys arise in sequential stages, while the lower urinary tract and much of the genitalia develop from the urogenital sinus and genital ridges. Sex differentiation is driven by genetic and hormonal factors that shape whether Müllerian (female) or Wolffian (male) ducts persist and how external genitalia form.

Functionally, the system supports waste elimination, fluid and electrolyte balance, reproduction, and sexual function. It is organized in the pelvic region and often shares innervation and vasculature, which has implications for urological and gynecological procedures.

Clinically, urogenital disorders include infections of the urinary tract, bladder or kidneys; kidney stones; prostate disease; and congenital anomalies such as hypospadias or Müllerian/Wolffian duct abnormalities; and cancers of kidney, bladder, prostate, ovaries or testes. The term also appears in subspecialties such as urology, gynecology, and urogenital radiology.