Weigert-Meyer law
Updates to Article Attributes
The Weigert-Meyer law describes the relationship of the upper and lower renal moieties in duplicated collecting systems to their drainage inferiorly.
Weigert-Meyer law
With duplex kidney and complete ureteral duplication, the upper renal and lower renal moiety is drained by separate ureters, each having its own ureteral orifice in the bladder.
- upper renal moiety has ectopic insertion medial and inferior to the lower pole moiety ureter, and frequently ends in a ureterocoele
- lower renal moiety has orthotopic insertion lateral and superior to the ureter draining the upper pole, and vesiculoureteral reflux typically occurs
Embryologically, duplication occurs when two separate ureteric buds arise from a single Wolffian duct (mesonephric duct). Due to the future lower pole ureter separating from the Wolffian duct earlier, it migrates superiorly and laterally as the urogenital sinus grows and becomes the upper pole moiety. Despite this migration of the upper tract, the insertion inferiorly maintains the original embryologic relationship, and thus the upper pole moiety ureter drains infero-medial to the normal lower moiety ureter.
The ectopic insertion often has a ureterocoele which obstructs its own collecting system, and can distort the orthotopic lower pole moiety insertion such that it is prone to reflux.
Stephen's ectopic pathway
As always, there are exceptions to the rule. Rarely reported in the literature, Stephen's ectopic pathway postulates that an ectopic ureter may drain not only distally to the normal ureteric orifice (as per Weigert-Meyer law), but may drain medially and superiorly to it (breaking Weigert-Meyer law) 6-7,7.
-</ul><p>Embryologically, duplication occurs when two separate ureteric buds arise from a single <a href="/articles/wolffian-duct">Wolffian duct</a> (mesonephric duct). Due to the future lower pole ureter separating from the Wolffian duct earlier, it migrates superiorly and laterally as the urogenital sinus grows and becomes the upper pole moiety. Despite this migration of the upper tract, the insertion inferiorly maintains the original embryologic relationship, and thus the upper pole moiety ureter drains infero-medial to the normal lower moiety ureter. </p><p>The ectopic insertion often has a <a href="/articles/ureterocoele">ureterocoele</a> which obstructs its own collecting system, and can distort the orthotopic lower pole moiety insertion such that it is prone to reflux.</p><h4>Stephen's ectopic pathway</h4><p>As always, there are exceptions to the rule. Rarely reported in the literature, Stephen's ectopic pathway postulates that an ectopic ureter may drain not only distally to the normal ureteric orifice (as per Weigert-Meyer law), but may drain medially and superiorly to it (breaking Weigert-Meyer law) <sup>6-7</sup>.</p>- +</ul><p>Embryologically, duplication occurs when two separate ureteric buds arise from a single <a href="/articles/wolffian-duct">Wolffian duct</a> (mesonephric duct). Due to the future lower pole ureter separating from the Wolffian duct earlier, it migrates superiorly and laterally as the urogenital sinus grows and becomes the upper pole moiety. Despite this migration of the upper tract, the insertion inferiorly maintains the original embryologic relationship, and thus the upper pole moiety ureter drains infero-medial to the normal lower moiety ureter. </p><p>The ectopic insertion often has a <a href="/articles/ureterocele-1">ureterocoele</a> which obstructs its own collecting system, and can distort the orthotopic lower pole moiety insertion such that it is prone to reflux.</p><h4>Stephen's ectopic pathway</h4><p>As always, there are exceptions to the rule. Rarely reported in the literature, Stephen's ectopic pathway postulates that an ectopic ureter may drain not only distally to the normal ureteric orifice (as per Weigert-Meyer law), but may drain medially and superiorly to it (breaking Weigert-Meyer law) <sup>6,7</sup>.</p>
References changed:
- 4. Weigert C. Über einige Bildungsfehler der Ureteren. Virchows Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für klinische Medizin, Berlin, 1877, 70: 490.
- 5. Meyer R. Zur Anatomie und Entwicklungsgeschichte der Ureterverdoppelung. Virchows Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für klinische Medizin, Berlin, 1907, 87: 408.
- 6. Ganz A, Roloff J, Walz P. Der “Ectopic Pathway” - Fakt Oder Fiktion? Aktuel Urol. 1996;27(06):419-21. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1055631">doi:10.1055/s-2008-1055631</a>
- 4. C. Weigert: Über einige Bildungsfehler der Ureteren. Virchows Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für klinische Medizin, Berlin, 1877, 70: 490.
- 5. R. Meyer: Zur Anatomie und Entwicklungsgeschichte der Ureterverdoppelung. Virchows Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für klinische Medizin, Berlin, 1907, 87: 408.
- 6. A. Ganz et. al. The “Ectopic Pathway” - fact or fiction? Aktuel Urol 1996; 27(6): 419-421.
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