The ureteral lumen during peristalsis

Abstract

This study concerns the size and shape of the ureteral lumen and an assessment of its enlargement during peristalsis. To stop the action of the living dog ureter, it was flooded with isopentane close to its freezing point (− 160° C). The ureter remained frozen until completion of all technical procedures. Photographs of the cut end of active ureters also provided evidence of its luminal characteristics and a movie was achieved of its continuous action. The totally collapsed lumen is stellate in form, epithelial surfaces being in virtual contact. As the lumen opens the points of the stars are last to go, but a square shape and finally a circle result. In a typical experiment, the collapsed lumen had a cross sectional area of 0.12 mm 2 , enlarging to 2 mm 2 in diuresis. This × 17 enlargement occurred over a 3 cm length of the peristaltic wave. Enlargement of the lumen is largely accommodated by thinning of the muscle coats and attenuation of the mucous membrane, there being relatively little gross enlargement of the total segment. Direct photography of the cut end of the proximal segment of the ureter completely confirms the section studies.