PHYSICAL WELLNESS

your body’s drainage pipes

THE URETERS

The ureters are thin, muscular tubes that carry urine from each kidney down to the bladder.
Even though they don’t get much spotlight, they’re essential for keeping waste flowing smoothly out of the body.

Here’s what they help with:

  • Transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder

  • Use wave-like muscle contractions (peristalsis) to keep urine moving downward

  • Prevent backflow of urine with special one-way entry points into the bladder

  • Adjust flow speed depending on how much urine is being produced

  • Act as silent messengers between kidneys and bladder, keeping the system in sync

URETER BASICS

Common Terms + Simple Definitions

Here’s a mini glossary for ureter related words you’ll see throughout the site:

Peristalsis - Wave-like muscle squeezing that pushes urine down the tube

Ureteral Orifice - The spot where the ureter meets the bladder

Ureterovesical Junction (UVJ) - The one-way “valve” that prevents backflow into the ureter

Hydronephrosis - Swelling of a kidney caused by urine backup (blocked ureter)

Ureteral Stone - A kidney stone that has moved down into the ureter

WHAT URETERS WORK WITH

URETERS + OTHER SYSTEMS

  1. Kidneys → Create the urine that ureters transport

  2. Bladder → Stores the urine until it’s ready to leave the body

  3. Urinary Sphincters → Control the release of urine downstream

  4. Circulatory System → Supplies the kidney cells that generate the urine in the first place

  5. Nervous System → Sends signals to coordinate peristalsis and bladder filling

HealthY URETERS…

Healthy ureters are like reliable plumbing: when they work, you don’t notice them at all.
But if they’re blocked, narrowed, or scarred, the entire urinary system can back up — stressing the kidneys and leading to pain or infection.
They’re a quiet but critical part of keeping your body’s cleansing system flowing in the right direction.