Most Things Biology

Ureters

Time To Read

1–2 minutes

Date Last Modified

Epithelial Cells

Ureters are strictly transitional epithelial tissue. Transitional tissue allows the ureters to extend and retract. This occurs as they funnel urine to a full or empty bladder. Ureters are surrounded by a significant amount of smooth muscle. This amount is less than the vas deferens but more than a uterine tube.

Human, non-distended ureter lined with transitional epithelium and surrounding smooth muscle
Figure 1: Human, non-distended ureter lined with transitional epithelium and surrounding smooth muscle
Human, non-distended ureter lined with transitional epithelium with the apical surface of cells dome-shaped
Figure 2: Human, non-distended ureter lined with transitional epithelium with the apical surface of cells dome-shaped
Overextended ureter with apical surface of cells flat.
Figure 3: Overextended ureter with apical surface of cells flat.

Figures 1 and 2: Non-distended ureter, human Slide 211
Figure 3: Ureter overextended, rat Slide 019-1
All by University of Michigan Histology, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.

Explore More on Urinary Histology

Link to more on Urinary Histology

List of terms