Organ
Abdominal part of the ureter
A muscular conduit descending over psoas major
High-yield
Gonadal vessels cross anteriorly. At the pelvic brim, the ureter passes over the iliac arterial region, often near the common iliac division but sometimes over the external iliac artery.
Overview
The abdominal ureter carries urine from renal pelvis toward pelvic brim through retroperitoneal tissue. It descends anterior to psoas major and is crossed by gonadal vessels. Its route and segmental arterial supply place it near several abdominal surgical fields.
Reference facts
- Location
- Retroperitoneal, from the ureteropelvic junction usually near L1–L2 along anterior psoas to the pelvic brim.
- Parts
- Lumbar and iliac portions precede entry into the pelvis across the iliac-vessel region.
- Blood supply
- Renal, gonadal, aortic and iliac branches feed a longitudinal adventitial network; abdominal branches generally approach medially, with variation.
- Innervation
- Autonomic fibers arrive through renal and aortic plexuses; pain afferents commonly reach T11–L2.
- Venous/Lymphatic drainage
- Small veins follow arterial routes; upper and middle ureteral lymph reaches lumbar and iliac nodes.
- Relations
- Right-sided anterior relations include duodenum, ileocolic/right colic vessels and mesenteric root. Left-sided relations include left colic vessels and sigmoid mesocolon. Gonadal vessels cross both.
- Function
- Smooth-muscle peristalsis propels urine toward the bladder without relying on gravity alone.
Clinical correlation
Inflammatory retroperitoneal tissue can encase or deviate the ureter and obstruct drainage. Aortic, colonic and retroperitoneal operations can injure it directly or compromise its small supplying vessels.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the abdominal part of the ureter located?
The abdominal part of the ureter lies retroperitoneal, from the ureteropelvic junction usually near L1–L2 along anterior psoas to the pelvic brim.
What does the abdominal part of the ureter do?
Smooth-muscle peristalsis propels urine toward the bladder without relying on gravity alone.
What are the parts of the abdominal part of the ureter?
The parts of the abdominal part of the ureter are the lumbar and iliac portions precede entry into the pelvis across the iliac-vessel region.
What is the blood supply of the abdominal part of the ureter?
Renal, gonadal, aortic and iliac branches feed a longitudinal adventitial network; abdominal branches generally approach medially, with variation.