Urinary System Diagram
Urinary system diagrams are illustrations of the urinary system, also referred to as the renal system. The urinary system, at a high level, contains two kidneys, two ureters, a urethra, and a bladder.
The urinary system is located directly below the rib cage. The kidneys are considered the primary organ of the urinary system and work in conjunction with the other urinary organs to rid the body of waste and urine.
The kidneys act as a filter for the blood, removing waste from them by producing urine. Blood is pumped and filtered through kidneys 400 times in a 24-hour period. The urinary system works together with the nervous system to relay signals to the brain when it is time to empty the bladder.
Types of Urinary System Diagrams
There are several different urinary system diagrams. It is important to note that urinary system diagrams may be gender specific. The only difference between the urinary system of a male versus a female is the length of the urethra. A woman's urethra is between one-and-a-half to two inches long, whereas the male urethra is generally around eight inches long. Below are some examples of the types of urinary system diagrams.
Diagram of the Urinary System: An overview of the entire, gender-specific or non-gender-specific urinary system. This will usually contain some or all of the following:
- Left and right adrenal gland
- Left and right kidney
- Left and right renal artery
- Left and right renal vein
- Left and right ureter
Urinary Tract Diagram: A gender-specific visual representation of the urinary tract, these types of diagrams can contain specific parts of the urinary tract such as:
- Internal urethral sphincter
- External urethral sphincter
Kidney Diagram: An illustration of one or both of the kidneys. These diagrams regularly show main parts of the kidney:
- Renal sinus
- Renal pyramid
- Major and minor calyx