ureter

noun

ure·​ter ˈyu̇r-ə-tər  yu̇-ˈrē-tər 

: either of the paired ducts that carry away the urine from a kidney to the bladder or cloaca

ureteral

yu̇-ˈrē-tə-rəl 

adjective

or less commonly ureteric

ˌyu̇r-ə-ˈter-ik 

Examples of ureter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Severe pain, or kidney colic, can occur when the stones move around in your kidney or block the flow of urine in a ureter (one of two tubes that lead from your kidney to your bladder). —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024

The ureters are thin muscular tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. —Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 1 July 2024

These stones can become lodged in the ureter, the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. —Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 3 June 2024

Renal System Complications The renal system—also known as the urinary system—consists of the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. —Korin Miller, Verywell Health, 29 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek ourētēr, from ourein to urinate — more at urine

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ureter

noun

ure·​ter ˈyu̇r-ət-ər 

: a tube that carries urine from a kidney to the bladder or cloaca

Medical Definition

ureter

noun

ure·​ter ˈyu̇r-ət-ər  yu̇-ˈrēt-ər 

: either of the paired ducts that carry away urine from a kidney to the bladder or cloaca and that in humans are slender membranous epithelium-lined flat tubes about sixteen inches (41 centimeters) long which open above into the pelvis of a kidney and below into the back part of the same side of the bladder at a very oblique angle