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The fluid mechanics of the ureter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

Rudolf Roos
Affiliation:
School of Aeronautics, Astronautics and Engineering Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana Present address: National Aerospace Laboratory NLR, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Paul S. Lykoudis
Affiliation:
School of Aeronautics, Astronautics and Engineering Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Abstract

The effect of the presence of a catheter upon the pressure distribution inside the ureter is considered. Under the assumption of Stokes flow and long wavelengths it is shown that during the contraction a thin lubrication-type layer is formed between the catheter and the ureteral wall, capable of sustaining high pressures. Furthermore, it is found that the insertion of a catheter does not change the pressure distribution inside the ureter appreciably, leading to the conclusion that a urometrogram obtained with a catheter gives a good representation of the pressure inside an undisturbed ureter.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1971 Cambridge University Press

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References

Boyarsky, S. (Ed.) 1970 Hydrodynamics of the Ureter. Proc. of the Workshop on the Hydrodynamics of the Upper Urinary Tract. New York: Academic.
Kiil, F. 1957 The Function of the Ureter and Renal Pelvis. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Lykoudis, P. S. & Roos, R. 1970 The fluid mechanics of the ureter from a lubrication theory point of view J. Fluid Mech. 43, 661.Google Scholar
Roos, R. 1970 Peristaltic transport in Physiological systems and the ureter in particular. Ph.D. dissertation, Purdue University.
Schlichting, H. 1960 Boundary Layer Theory, 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.