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

Stage 2 is when the stone moves into one of the tubes, called a ureter, that passes urine from the kidneys to the bladder. —Jay N. Yepuri, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2024

And while there have been no permanent complications, several donors have had damage to their bladder or ureter. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2024

Joann Catlett, 47, was incapacitated for six months after a hysterectomy during which her ureter, the duct that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder, was cut. —Holly Baltz, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2024

Medications: Prescription medications such as Flomax (tamsulosin) can relax the ureter and help pass the stone. —Sarah Jividen, Health, 17 July 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