Electron Microscopy of the Lower Ureter in Man

SUMMARY The ultrastructural arrangement of the smooth muscle cells of the ureteric wall in man has been studied and contacts between individual cells have been demonstrated. The relevance of these muscle cell contacts to ureteric peristalsis has been discussed. The unmyelinated nerve fibres within the wall of the ureter in man have been studied. Nerve endings on the vascular musculature and the ureteric musculature have been described, which it has been suggested are efferent in function. Nerve endings in the submucosa have been described and their possible function suggested. No ganglion cells have been identified.