Both ureters run close to the cervix as they pass inferiorly to the uterine arteries at the level of the cardinal ligament. This proximity is clinically significant during gynecological surgeries such as hysterectomy, where the ureters are at risk of injury due to their course near the cervix. Both the right and left ureters are equally vulnerable since they follow a symmetrical anatomical path around the cervix. Recognizing this relationship is essential to avoid ureteral damage during pelvic surgery.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy, Standring S, 42nd Edition.