Vascular Anatomy of the Kidneys

the renal arteries are branches of the

abdominal aorta

the renal arteries are located

just below the level of the SMA

route of oxygenated blood through the kidneys

renal arteries (enter at the renal hilum) → segmental branches → interlobar arteries (travels through the renal pyramids)

the interlobar arteries branch into the much smaller — at the base of the pyramids

arcuate arteries

the arcuate arteries then branch into the —

interlobular arteries

the interlobular arteries branch into the

afferent arterioles

the afferent arterioles

carry blood into the glomerulus for filtration

the right renal artery travels — to the IVC , and is therefore longer than the left renal artery

posterior

the renal veins exit the kidneys at their respective renal hilums and connect to the

lateral aspects of the IVC

the left renal vein has to travel across the abdomen, between —, and is therefore longer than the right renal vein

SMV and abdominal aorta