Narrowing of the Ureter

A classic boards question in surgery and urology centers on knowing the three areas that the ureter naturally narrows and is thus an anatomic position predisposed to stone to lodge. These areas are:

1. as the ureter leaves the kidney at the ureteropelvic junction

2. the site where the ureter crosses the common iliac vessels

3. as the ureter enters the bladder at the uterovesicular junction