Which is bigger urethra or ureter

Urine flows through the ureters into the urinary bladder. In women, the bladder is located in front of the vagina and below the uterus. In men, the bladder sits in front of the rectum and above the prostate gland. The wall of the bladder contains folds called rugae , and a layer of smooth muscle called the detrusor muscle. As urine fills the bladder, the rugae smooth out to accommodate the volume. The detrusor relaxes to hold the urine, then contracts for urination.

An adult bladder is full at about half a liter, or about two cups. Urine produced in the kidneys passes through the ureters, collects in the bladder, and is then excreted through the urethra. In females, the urethra is narrow and about 4 cm long, significantly shorter than in males. It extends from the bladder neck to the external urethral orifice in the vestibule of the vagina.

In males, the urethra is about The male urethra is divided into three sections: the prostatic urethra the widest portion , the membranous urethra the narrowest portion , and the spongy urethra the longest portion. It extends from the bladder neck through the prostate and the penis to the external urethral orifice.

In men, both urine and semen pass out of the body through the urethra. Download Urinary System Lab Manual. The kidneys are solid organs surrounded by a layer of fat. The central part of the kidney is hollow — this is called the renal pelvis and is where the urine is stored just prior to flowing downstream into the ureter. In some patients the kidneys are located in the pelvis pelvic kidney or the two kidneys are joined together across the midline horseshoe kidney.

Each kidney produces urine which drains down a ureter into the base of the bladder. Some patients have two ureters draining out of one kidney — a duplex system. Very rarely patients have three ureters draining a kidney. The ureters are very narrow which is not a problem as urine can easily flow though this.

These are:. Two sphincter muscles. These circular muscles help keep urine from leaking by closing tightly like a rubber band around the opening of the bladder. Nerves in the bladder. The nerves alert a person when it is time to urinate, or empty the bladder.

This tube allows urine to pass outside the body. The brain signals the bladder muscles to tighten, which squeezes urine out of the bladder. At the same time, the brain signals the sphincter muscles to relax to let urine exit the bladder through the urethra.

When all the signals occur in the correct order, normal urination occurs. Health Home Wellness and Prevention. Kidney and urinary system parts and their functions Two kidneys. Their function is to: Remove waste products and drugs from the body Balance the body's fluids Release hormones to regulate blood pressure Control production of red blood cells.