View source for Renal Blood Vessels and Renal Segments

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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->Renal vessels arise at the level of the [[intervertebral disc]] between L1 and L2 vertebrae.

== Renal arteries and their branches ==
[[File:KidneyStructures PioM.svg|250 px|right|thumb| 
<center>
1. Renal pyramid •
2. Interlobular artery •
3. Renal artery •
4. Renal vein
5. Renal hilum •
6. Renal pelvis •
7. Ureter •
8. Minor calyx •
9. Renal capsule •
10. Inferior renal capsule •
11. Superior renal capsule •
12. Interlobular vein •
13. Nephron •
14. Minor calyx •
15. Major calyx •
16. Renal papilla •
17. Renal column
</center>]]
The arteries are mostly posterior to the veins. They divide close to the hilum into 5 segmental arteries, which are end-arteries (they do not anastomose significantly with adjacent branches). The right renal artery is the longest vessel and passes also posterior to [[inferior vena cava]]. Before entering the hilum, the renal artery gives 2 branches:
* the inferior suprarenal artery;
* ureteric branch.

The segmental arteries of the renal arteries:
# '''Superior''' (apical) (from anterior branch of renal aa)
# '''Anterior superior''' (from anterior branch of renal aa)
# '''Anterior inferior''' (from anterior branch of renal aa)
# '''Inferior''' (from anterior branch of renal aa)
# '''Posterior''' (continuation of the posterior branch of renal aa)

The segmental arteries then subdivide in the following manner:
* '''Interlobar''' arteries in the renal sinus between the pyramids →
** '''Arcuate''' arteries that go around the pyramids in the medulla region →
*** '''Cortical radiate''' arteries that “radiate” around the pyramids into the cortical region. Some of these can also perforate the renal capsule.

== Renal veins and their tributaries ==
Veins are numerous and drain in each kidney in a variable fashion to form the renal vein. The renal veins both lie anterior to the renal arteries.
The left renal vein, receives also:
* the testicular (ovarian) vein;
* the left suprarenal vein;
* communicating branch with ascending lumbar vein.

== Lymphatics ==
Lymph is conducted along lymphatic vessels that follow the renal veins and drain into the right and left lumbar (caval & aortic) lymph nodes.
<noinclude>
== Links ==
=== Related articles ===
* [[Kidney]]
* [[Renal Pelvis and Calices]]
* [[Structure of Kidney]]

=== Bibliography ===
* {{Cite
| type = book
| surname1 = Moore
| name1 = Keith L
| surname2 = Dalley
| name2 = Arthur F
| title = Clinically Oriented Anatomy
| edition = 5
| publisher = Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
| year = 2005
| isbn = 0781736390
}}</noinclude>

[[Category:Inserted articles]]
[[Category:Anatomy]]