Anatomy of the ureters Flashcards
How long is the ureter?
35 - 30 cm
How does the ureter propel urine towards the bladder?
Peristalsis
At what spinal level does the ureter arise?
Continuous with renal pelvis at L2
Is the ureter intra or retroperitoneal?
Retroperitoneal
How is the ureter located using the surface anatomy?
Ureter is a straight line 5 cm from the midsaggital plane extending from the L2 vertebra to the posterior superior iliac spine.
Where is the abdominal part of the ureter located?
From renal pelvis to bifurcation of common iliac artery
Where is the pelvic part of the ureter located?
Pelvic brim to posterior base of urinary bladder
What joint is located near the bifurcation of the common iliac artery?
The Sacroiliac joint
Ureter descends along medial border of the ________
Psoas major
What structures are located anteriorly to the right ureter?
Right testicular/ovarian vessels
Right colic/ileocolic vessels
Root of the mesentery
What structures are located posteriorly to the right ureter?
Tips of the transverse processes of the L2 - L5 vertebrae
Right genital femoral N
Right psoas muscle
Bifurcation of right common iliac artery
What structures lie anterior to the left ureter?
Left colic vessels
Left sigmoid vessels
Left testicular/ovarian vessels
Root of sigmoid mesocolon
Sigmoid colon
What structures lie posterior to the left ureter?
Tips of transverse processes
Left genital femoral nerve
Left psoas muscle
Bifurcation of left common iliac artery
Where do the ureters run at the pelvic brim?
Along the lateral pelvic wall parallel to the anterior margin of the greater sciatic notch.
Which direction do the ureters curve when they are opposite the ischial spine?
Anteromedially (they curve this direction superiorly to the levator ani)
How are the ductus deferans and the ureters positioned relative to each other?
Terminal part of the ureter enters the bladder anteriorly to the point where the ductus deferans enters the seminal vesicle
What structure does the ureter pass above before entering the urinary bladder?
The seminal vesicle
Which is more anterior the ureter or the ductus deferans?
The ureter
What is the path of the ductus deferens?
Passes through inguinal canal and attaches medially at the seminal vesicle
Where do the ovaries lie relative to the ureters?
Immediately anteriorly
How are the ovaries related to the ureters?
Ureter forms posterior wall of ovarian fossa in which the ovary lies
How do the ureters pass relative to the uterus?
The ureter passes laterally to the cervix before it attaches to the bladder then anteriorly to the anterior fornix of the vagina to attach to the nladder
What is the clinical significance of the pathway of the ureters relative to the uterus?
Damage to the ureters can occur during a hysterectomy
What structure lies posterior to the ureter at the entrance to the urinary bladder in males?
Rectovesical pouch
What structure lies posterior to the ureter at the entrance to the urinary bladder in females?
Anterior fornix of the vagina
What structures lie laterally to the ureter in males?
Anterior branches of the internal iliac artery (umbilical, superior and inferior vesical, and obturator artery)
Obturator Nerve
Obturator Fascia
What structures lie laterally to the ureter in females?
Anterior branches of the internal iliac artery
SUPERIOR VESICAL ARTERY
Obturator artery
Uterine artery
Obturator N
Obturator Fascia
What structures lie superior to the ureter in females?
Broad ligament
Uterine artery
What angle do ureters enter the urinary bladder?
Posterosuperior angle of its base
What direction do the ureters enter the bladder?
inferomedially
Where is the seminal vesicle located?
posterior to the bladder
Where do the ductus deferens run relative to the ureters?
Anteriorly and then superiorly to where the ureters meet the bladder
Where are the constrictions of the ureter located?
junction between renal pelvis and ureter at level L2/L3
At the pelvic brim near the bifurcation of the common iliac artery
At the entrance into urinary bladder wall
How many constrictions does the ureter have?
3
At what spinal level does the renal artery arise?
L1/L2 (like the hilum of the kidney)
Where does the right renal artery run relative to the IVC?
Posteriorly
What structure does the left renal vein pass behind?
The superior mesenteric artery
How much blood do the kidneys need?
They require 21% of CO
Do renal arteries have anastomoses?
No they are end arteries
What is the pathway of blood from heart to the glomerulus and back?
Heart -> Aorta -> renal artery -> Segmental artery -> Interlobular artery -> Arcuate artery -> Afferent arteriole -> Glomerulus -> Efferent arteriole -> peritubular artery and vasa recta -> Interlobular vein +arcuate vein ->arcuate vein ->Interlobular vein -> Renal vein -> IVC -> Heart
What are the divisions of the renal artery?
Divides into anterior and posterior divisions just before the hilum.
Anterior division divides into 4 segments
Posterior division continues to a segment on its own.
What are the anterior division’s segments?
Superior
Anterior superior
Anterior inferior
Inferior
What are the posterior divisions?
Posterior segment
What does the blood supply of the abdominal ureter consist of?
Renal artery
Gonadal artery
Suprarenal artery
Vessels from posterior abdominal wall
What supplies the pelvic part of the ureter?
Common iliac vessels
Internal iliac vessels
Inferior vesical vessels
What lymphatics drain kidneys?
Lymphatics from kidneys follow renal veins and drain into:
Right and Left lumbar lymph nodes
Caval lymph nodes
Aortic lymph nodes
What lymphatics do ureters drain into?
Para aortic lymph nodes