Ureters

Question 1

what are the ureters

Answer 1

The ureters are two thick tubes which act to transport urine from the kidney to the bladder. They are 25cm long, and are situated bilaterally, with one ureter draining each kidne

Question 2

what is on the walls of the ureter

Answer 2

comprised of smooth muscle, which contracts to produce peristaltic waves. This propels the urine towards the bladder.

Question 3

antomical course of the ureter

Answer 3

Abdominal Part

The ureters arise from the renal pelvis – a funnel like structure located within the hilum of the kidney. The renal pelvis receives urine from the major calyces. The point at which the renal pelvis narrows to form the ureter is known as the ureteropelvic junction.

After the ureteropelvic junction, the ureters descend down the abdomen, along the anterior surface of the psoas major. Here, the ureters are a retroperitoneal structure (located behind the peritoneum).

At the area of the sacroiliac joints, the ureters cross the pelvic brim, thus entering the pelvic cavity. At this point, they also cross the bifurcation of the common iliac arteries.

Pelvic Part

Once within the pelvic cavity, the ureters run down the lateral pelvic walls. At the level of the ischial spines, they turn anteromedially, moving in a transverse plane towards the bladder.

Upon reaching the bladder wall, the ureters pierce its lateral aspect in an oblique manner. This creates a one way valve, where high intramural pressure collapses the ureters, preventing the back-flow of urine.