The upper urinary tract includes the kidneys and ureters. The paired kidneys are essential excretory organs that filter waste products from the blood, which are then excreted in urine. In addition to waste removal, the kidneys help maintain the body’s pH balance and regulate the salt-water balance. They also produce hormones that are involved in blood formation and blood pressure regulation.
Through a complex filtration system, urine is produced in the kidneys, collected in the renal pelvis, and transported through the ureters to the bladder for storage. Since urine is continuously produced, it must be continuously drained into the bladder. Each kidney has its own ureter, a muscular tube that propels urine from the kidney to the bladder through coordinated muscle contractions.
The Department of Urology at St. Antonius-Hospital treats a wide range of upper urinary tract conditions, including:
