A muscular tube that carries urine from the kidney down to the urinary bladder.
Structure
Each ureter is roughly 25 to 30 centimeters long with a narrow lumen. Its wall has three layers of smooth muscle that contract in coordinated waves.
Function
Peristaltic waves of the smooth muscle move urine from the renal pelvis down to the bladder, regardless of body position. Valve-like junctions at the bladder prevent reflux.
Clinical note
Kidney stones often lodge in the ureter, especially at three natural narrow points, causing intense colicky pain known as renal colic.
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