Overview
What the Anomaly Means
Hypospadias is a congenital anomaly in which the urethral opening, or meatus, is located on the ventral surface of the penis rather than at the tip of the glans.
Hypospadias is a congenital anomaly in which the urethral opening, or meatus, is located on the ventral surface of the penis rather than at the tip of the glans. It develops when the urethral folds do not completely fuse during approximately weeks 8–14 of gestation. It occurs in about 1 in 200 live male births in Canada. The meatus may be distal, near the glans; midshaft; or proximal, near the penoscrotal junction or perineum. The location matters because it helps predict the complexity of repair. The penis may also have chordee, a ventral curvature caused by abnormal tissue tethering, and a dorsal hood of foreskin with less skin on the ventral surface. The experienced nurse notices the relationship between these findings rather than focusing only on the opening. A ventral meatus plus a dorsal hood and curvature is the characteristic pattern. Epispadias is a useful contrast: its meatus is on the dorsal surface. Meatal stenosis is different again; it is narrowing of the urethral opening and may occur as a later complication after repair rather than defining the original anomaly....