Ureter: From 4 Different Sources
One of the 2 tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Each ureter is 25–30 cm long. There are 3 layers in the walls of the ureters: a fibrous outer layer; muscular middle layer; and inner watertight layer. Each ureter is supplied by blood vessels and nerves. Urine flows down the ureters partly from gravity but mainly as a result of peristalsis.
Some people are born with double ureters, on 1 or both sides of the body.
This sometimes causes reflux of urine, incontinence, or infection.
The tube that carries URINE from the kidney (see KIDNEYS) to the URINARY BLADDER. There are two ureters, one for each kidney, and they originate from the kidney pelvis and track for 25– 30 cm (10–12 inches) through the loins and pelvis. They open by a narrow slit into the base of the bladder. The lower end of the ureter pierces the wall of the bladder so obliquely (lying embedded in the wall for about 21 mm) that, although urine runs freely into the bladder, it is prevented from returning up the ureter as the bladder becomes distended.
n. either of a pair of tubes, 25–30 cm long, that conduct urine from the pelvis of kidneys to the bladder. The walls of the ureters contain thick layers of smooth muscle, which contract to force urine into the bladder, between an outer fibrous coat and an inner mucous layer. —ureteral, ureteric adj.
(uretero-) combining form denoting the ureter(s). Example: ureterovaginal (relating to the ureters and vagina).
Pain in the ureter... ureteralgia
Inflammation of the ureter... ureteritis
A surgically produced arti?cial channel between the URETER and the large bowel (see INTESTINE). A form of diversion of the URINE ?ow, the URINARY BLADDER is bypassed and the ureters drain into the sigmoid COLON. The operation is done when a bladder is removed, usually because of cancer.... ureteroenterostomy
A ?exible or rigid endoscopic instrument (see ENDOSCOPE) that is inserted (via the URINARY BLADDER) into the URETER and up into the pelvis of the kidney (see KIDNEYS). The instrument is commonly used to identify a stone in the ureter and to remove it under vision with forceps or a stone basket. If the stone is large it is broken into fragments, using an ultrasound or electrohydraulic LITHOTRIPSY probe that is inserted through the instrument.... ureteroscope
The back ?ow of URINE from the URINARY BLADDER into the ureters (see URETER). The cause is defects in the VALVES which normally prevent this re?ux from occurring. If, in addition, the patient – usually a child – acquires bacteria in the bladder, the consequence may be one or more attacks of PYELONEPHRITIS caused by the infected urine gaining access to the kidney pelvis. Diagnosis is by imaging techniques. Treatment is by long-term antibiotics while awaiting spontaneous recovery. Occassionally, corrective surgery is required.... vesico-ureteric reflux
See renal colic.... ureteric colic
n. the operation of connecting one ureter to the other in the abdomen. The damaged/obstructed ureter is cut above the diseased or damaged segment and joined end-to-side to the other ureter.... transuretero-ureterostomy
n. surgical removal of a ureter. This usually includes removal of the associated kidney as well (see nephroureterectomy). If previous nephrectomy has been performed to remove a kidney that has been destroyed by *vesicoureteric reflux or because of a tumour of the renal pelvis, subsequent ureterectomy may be necessary to cure reflux into the stump of the ureter or tumour in the ureter, respectively. Less commonly, in certain cases an isolated segment of a ureter may be removed for a short ureteric stricture or ureteric tumour.... ureterectomy
n. a cystic swelling of the wall of the ureter at the point where it passes into the bladder. It may be associated with stenosis of the opening of the ureter and it may cause impaired drainage of the kidney with dilatation of the ureter and *hydronephrosis. Ureteroceles may also be complicated by infection, prolapse, and bladder outflow obstruction.... ureterocele
n. an operation to free one or both ureters from surrounding abnormal adhesions or fibrous tissue (e.g. retroperitoneal fibrosis). It may also be performed prior to pelvic surgery to avoid intraoperative ureteric injury.... ureterolysis
n. the surgical reimplantation of a ureter into the bladder. This is most commonly performed to cure *vesicoureteric reflux. The ureter is reimplanted obliquely through the bladder wall to act as a valve and prevent subsequent reflux. The operation is usually referred to as an antireflux procedure or simply reimplantation of ureter.... ureteroneocystostomy
n. see nephroureterectomy.... ureteronephrectomy
n. surgical reconstruction of the ureter using a segment of bowel or a tube of bladder (see Boari flap). This is necessary if a segment of ureter is damaged by disease or injury.... ureteroplasty
n. inflammation involving both the ureter and the renal pelvis (see ureteritis; pyelitis).... ureteropyelonephritis
n. the inspection of the lumen of the ureter with a *ureteroscope.... ureteroscopy
n. the operation of implanting the ureters into the sigmoid colon (see ureteroenterostomy). This method of permanent urinary diversion may be used after *cystectomy or to bypass a diseased or damaged bladder. The urine is passed together with the faeces, and continence depends upon a normal anal sphincter. The main advantage of this form of diversion is the avoidance of an external opening and appliance to collect the urine; the disadvantages include possible kidney infection, acidosis, and long-term development of cancer of the colon 20–30 years after the procedure.... ureterosigmoidostomy
n. the surgical creation of an external opening from the ureter. This usually involves bringing the ureter to the skin surface through the abdominal wall so that the urine can drain into a suitable appliance (cutaneous ureterostomy). The divided dilated ureter can be brought through the skin to form a spout, but ureters of a normal size need to be implanted into a segment of bowel used for this purpose (see ileal conduit) to avoid narrowing and obstruction.... ureterostomy
n. surgical incision into the ureter. The commonest reason for performing this is to allow removal of a stone (see ureterolithotomy).... ureterotomy
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