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How does the renal pelvis connect the kidney to the ureter?
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renal system
Diagram showing the location of the kidneys in the abdominal cavity and their attachment to major arteries and veins.
The renal pelvis serves as the funnel-shaped connection between the kidney and the ureter. It is formed by the expanded upper end of the ureter, which sits within a deep indentation on the concave side of the kidney known as the sinus.12
Within the kidney, the renal pelvis branches into cuplike extensions called calyces, which collect urine from the kidney's collecting ducts. The walls of the renal pelvis contain smooth muscle fibers that undergo peristaltic movements. These periodic contractions generate waves that actively push the collected urine from the calyces through the renal pelvis and into the ureter for transport to the urinary bladder.12