Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Ureter

The ureters are bilateral thin (3 to 4 mm) tubular structures that connect the kidneys to the urinary bladder, transporting urine from the renal pelvis into the bladder. The muscular layers are responsible for the peristaltic activity that the ureter uses to move the urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Embryologically, the ureter originates from the ureteric bud, which is a protrusion of the mesonephric duct, a part of the genitourinary system development.

The ureters begin at the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) of the kidneys, which lie posteriorly to the renal vein and artery in the hilum[1]. The ureters then travel inferiorly inside the abdominal cavity. They pass over (anterior to) the psoas muscle and enter the bladder on the posterior bladder aspect in the trigon.

Three areas along the path of the ureter are clinically significant for renal stones lodging. These areas are: the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ), the ureterovesical junction (UVJ), and the crossover of the common iliac arteries. The UPJ is where the pelvis of the kidney transitions into the ureter and the UVJ is where the ureters enter the bladder.

The blood supply to the ureter is segmental. The upper ureter closest to the kidneys receives blood directly from the renal arteries. The middle part is supplied by the common iliac arteries, branches from the abdominal aorta, and the gonadal arteries. The most distal part of the ureter receives blood from branches of the internal iliac artery.

T12 through L2 provide innervation to the ureters, creating a ureteric plexus. Pain may refer to T12-L2 dermatomes.

The ureter is often injured in all types of hysterectomies as it is near the infundibulo-pelvic ligament.

The ureteric wall is composed of three main of tissue: inner mucosa, middle muscle layer and outer serosa. The lining of the inner layer is transitional epithelium. Deeper to it is the lamina propria, which is combined with the epithelium make up the mucosal lining. The next deeper layer of tissue is the smooth muscle layer or lamina propria. An inner longitudinal and an outer circular layer comprise the smooth muscle layer of the ureter.

The path of the ureter is along the anterior edge of the psoas muscle, which is the general area where the gonadal vessels cross anteriorly to the ureter a third of the way to the bladder. The ureter crosses over the common iliac arteries, showing the anatomical landmark of the bifurcation of the common iliac vessels into internal and externa iliac vessels. The ureters finally enter on the posterior wall of the bladder where they incorporate into the trigone[2]. The ureters have specific anatomic relationships dependent upon which side of the body. The right ureter lies in close relationship to the ascending colon, cecum, and appendix. The left ureter is close to the descending and sigmoid colon.[1]

The nomenclature of the ureter is based on its anatomic relationship to surrounding structures. The abdominal ureter is the segment of the ureter that extends from the renal pelvis to the iliac vessels. The pelvic ureter extends from the iliac vessels to the bladder[3]. There is an alternative method of ureteral nomenclature: upper, middle, and lower segments. The upper ureter extends from the renal pelvis to the upper border of the sacrum. The middle ureter continues from the upper to lower borders of the sacrum. The distal ureter continues from the lower border of the sacrum to the bladder.

The stalk of the ureteric bud which is a diverticulum from the mesonephric duct gives rise to the ureter. The bud branches near the cranial aspect into the collecting tubules which become confluent and form the major calyces.[1]

The ureters receive their blood supply from multiple arterial branches[4]. In the upper or abdominal ureter, the arterial branches stem from the renal and gonadal artery, abdominal aorta, and common iliac arteries. In the pelvic and distal ureter, the arterial branches come from the vesical and uterine arteries, which are branches of the internal iliac artery. The arterial supply will course along the ureter longitudinally creating a plexus of anastomosing vessels. This is of clinical significance because it allows for safe mobilization of the ureter during surgery when proper exposure from surrounding structures is crucial.

The venous and lymphatic drainage of the ureter mirrors that of the arterial supply. The lymphatic drainage is to the internal, external, and common iliac nodes[5]. The lymphatic drainage of the left ureter is primarily to the left para-aortic lymph nodes while the drainage of the right ureter primarily drains to the right paracaval and interaortocaval lymph nodes.

The exact role of the innervation of the ureter is unclear, but the innervation for ureteral peristalsis originates from the intrinsic smooth muscular pacemaker sites. Within the renal collecting system, the minor calyces are the location for the pacemaker sites.[6]

There is preganglionic sympathetic input from T10 through L2[7]. The aorticorenal, superior, and inferior hypogastric autonomic plexuses give rise to the postganglionic fibers.

S2 through S4 provide parasympathetic innervation to the ureter.