The ureters
Ureters · ureter
Two thin muscular tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
What it does
Each ureter runs about 25 to 30 centimetres from a kidney down the back of the abdomen into the bladder. Waves of muscle contraction push urine along in small spurts, even when you are lying down. Where they enter the bladder, a flap of tissue stops urine flowing back.
Surprising fact
Kidney stones are most painful when they get stuck in the ureter, which squeezes hard against the blockage, causing waves of severe pain.
Why it matters
Drinking enough water dilutes urine and helps prevent the stones that cause this pain.
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Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.