Lower ureter refers to the ureter from the lower edge of sacroiliac joint to the inner section of bladder wall. There are different segmentation methods such as ultrasound, abdominal section or CT, which refer to different locations, as follows.
1. Ultrasound segmentation of the ureter: clinically, the ureter is usually divided into upper, middle and lower segments. The upper segment of the ureter is from the renal pelvis and ureter junction to the iliac artery, which is also known as the abdominal segment. The middle section of the ureter runs from the iliac artery to the bladder wall, also known as the pelvic section. The lower ureteral segment travels inward from the bladder wall to the bladder mucosa and ureteral opening, also known as the intramural segment.
In addition, there are three physiologic strictures of the ureter; the first is located where the kidney joins the ureter, the second physiologic stricture is where the ureter crosses the iliac vessels, and the third stricture is where the ureter enters the bladder. The three physiologic strictures can often lead to associated diseases of the ureter, such as ureteral obstruction, stricture, and stones.
2. Ureteral segmentation by abdominal section or CT: according to the sacroiliac joint segmentation, the upper segment is above the upper edge of the sacroiliac joint, the middle segment is between the upper and lower edges of the sacroiliac joint, and the lower segment is below the lower edge of the lower edge of the sacroiliac joint to the bladder.
If ureteral lesions are present, medical consultation should be sought promptly.