Stricture

Stricture, the narrowed and constricted condition which is sometimes met with in the urethra, and more rarely the oesophagus, rectum, or other natural passage of the human body. Stricture of the urethra usually occurs as a result of preceding inflammation, particularly the inflammation which is caused by gonorrhoea. It may be due, in rare instances, to injury or to ulceration of the urethral mucous membrane. The results produced by stricture of the urethra, if the condition is allowed to remain untreated for a considerable length of time, are far-reaching, and productive in the majority of instances of serious disease of the bladder and kidneys.