Ureters, Urinary Bladder, and Urethra Anatomy

Ureters:

• Tube like structures that connect the kidneys with the urinary bladder
• 25-30 cm long and 3-4 mm wide
• Paired with kidneys (1 ureter with 1 kidney)
• Lined with transitional epithelium and smooth muscle


• Transports urine from kidneys to urinary bladder

Urinary Bladder:

• A hollow, stretchy, muscular organ 
• Collects urine
• Lined with transitional epithelium and smooth muscle 
• Urine leaves the bladder by the internal urethral sphincter into the urethra

Urethra:

• Tube that connects the urinary bladder to the external urethral orifice 
• In males the urethra is approximately 20 cm long and in women it is 4.8 cm long
• In males it carries semen and urine while in women it only carries urine 
• Also lined with transitional epithelium and smooth muscle