Weigert-Meyer law

Changed by Ayush Goel, 25 Nov 2014

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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 have their own ureters with each ureter having its own ureteral orifice in the bladder. The upper renal moiety has ectopic insertion medial and inferior to the lower pole moiety ureter and frequently ends in a ureterocele. The lower renal moiety has orthotopic insertion lateral and superior to the ureter draining the upper pole and 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

  • -<p>The <strong>Weigert-Meyer law</strong> describes the relationship of the upper and lower renal moieties in <a href="/articles/duplex-collecting-system">duplicated collecting systems</a> to their drainage inferiorly.</p><h4>Weigert-Meyer law</h4><p>With duplex kidney and complete ureteral duplication, the upper renal and lower renal moiety have their own ureters with each ureter having its own ureteral orifice in the bladder. The upper renal moiety has ectopic insertion medial and inferior to the lower pole moiety ureter and frequently ends in a <a href="/articles/ureterocoele">ureterocele</a>. The lower renal moiety has orthotopic insertion lateral and superior to the ureter draining the upper pole and reflux typically occurs.<strong> </strong> </p><p>Embryologically, duplication occurs when two separate ureteric buds arise from a single <a href="/articles/wolffian-duct">Wolffian duct</a>. 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><p> </p>
  • +<p>The <strong>Weigert-Meyer law</strong> describes the relationship of the upper and lower renal moieties in <a href="/articles/duplex-collecting-system">duplicated collecting systems</a> to their drainage inferiorly.</p><h4>Weigert-Meyer law</h4><p>With duplex kidney and complete ureteral duplication, the upper renal and lower renal moiety have their own ureters with each ureter having its own ureteral orifice in the bladder. The upper renal moiety has ectopic insertion medial and inferior to the lower pole moiety ureter and frequently ends in a <a href="/articles/ureterocoele">ureterocele</a>. The lower renal moiety has orthotopic insertion lateral and superior to the ureter draining the upper pole and reflux typically occurs.<strong> </strong> </p><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><p> </p>

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