ureter
Sign in to saveThe ureters are tubes composed of smooth muscle that transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. In adult humans, the ureters are typically 20–30 centimeters long and 3–4 millimeters in diameter. They are lined with urothelial cells, a form of transitional epithelium, and feature an extra layer of smooth muscle in the lower third to aid peristalsis. The ureters can be affected by diseases including urinary tract infections and kidney stones. is the narrowing of a ureter, often caused by chronic inflammation. Congenital abnormalities can cause development of two ureters on the same
AI overview
The ureters are muscular tubes that carry urine from your kidneys down to your bladder, typically measuring about 20-30 centimeters long in adults. They matter because they're essential for moving urine through your urinary system, and problems like infections or kidney stones can affect their function.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Anatomy.Name
- Ureter
- Anatomy.Latin
- ureter
- Anatomy.Greek
- οὐρητήρ
- Anatomy.Image
- Urinary system.svg
- Anatomy.Caption
- The ureters (labeled 4) are tubes that carry urine and connect the kidneys to the bladder.
- Anatomy.Precursor
- Ureteric bud
- Anatomy.System
- Urinary system
- Anatomy.Artery
- Superior vesical artery, vaginal artery, ureteral branches of renal artery
- Anatomy.Nerve
- Ureteric plexus
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
16 sectionsContents
- Structure
- Blood and lymphatic supply
- Nerve supply
- Microanatomy
- Development
- Function
- Clinical significance
- Ureteral stones
- Reflux
- Anatomical and surgical abnormalities
- Cancer
- Injury
- Imaging
- Other animals
- History
- References
The ureters are tubes composed of smooth muscle that transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. In adult humans, the ureters are typically 20–30 centimeters long and 3–4 millimeters in diameter. They are lined with urothelial cells, a form of transitional epithelium, and feature an extra layer of smooth muscle in the lower third to aid peristalsis. The ureters can be affected by diseases including urinary tract infections and kidney stones. is the narrowing of a ureter, often caused by chronic inflammation. Congenital abnormalities can cause development of two ureters on the same side or abnormally placed ureters. Reflux of urine from the bladder into the ureters is common in children.
The ureters have been identified for at least two thousand years, with the word ureter stemming from the stem relating to urinating and seen in written records since at least the time of Hippocrates. It is, however, only since the 16th century that the term "ureter" has been consistently used to refer to the modern structure, and only since the development of medical imaging in the 20th century that techniques such as X-ray, CT, and ultrasound have been able to view the ureters. The ureters are also seen from the inside using a flexible camera, called ureteroscopy, which was first described in 1964.