What are penetrating injuries to the kidneys, ureters, or bladder?
• Penetrating injuries are also called piercing injuries. These may be caused by anything that goes through the skin and into the body. Piercing injuries to the abdomen (stomach) and lower back area may injure the kidneys, ureters, or bladder. Injuries may include a tear, bruise, or, in severe cases, a ruptured kidney or bladder. The organ’s blood vessels may also be affected. A piercing injury may also cut or put a hole in the ureter. Any of these injuries may lead to internal bleeding. • The kidneys are bean-shaped organs that remove unwanted chemicals and waste from your blood. These wastes are turned into urine by the kidneys. There is one kidney located on each side of the spine (backbone) in the back of your abdomen. The ureters are tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, round organ that holds urine. It is small and when empty, lies behind the pelvic bone in the front of the abdomen. When the bladder is full, it becomes round and it goes
