Artery: Renal artery |
Renal arteries branching left and right from the aorta (in red), viewed from behind with the spine removed
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1. Renal pyramid
2. Efferent artery
3. Renal artery
4. Renal vein
5. Renal hilum
6. Renal pelvis
7. Ureter
8. Minor calyx
9. Renal capsule |
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10. Inferior renal capsule
11. Superior renal capsule
12. Afferent vein
13. Nephron
14. Minor calyx
15. Major calyx
16. Renal papilla
17. Renal column |
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Latin |
Arteria renalis |
Gray's |
p.610 |
Supplies |
Kidneys |
Source |
Abdominal aorta |
Branches |
Inferior suprarenal artery, segmental arteries |
Vein |
Renal vein |
MeSH |
Renal+Artery |
The renal arteries normally arise off the side of the abdominal aorta, immediately below the superior mesenteric artery, and supply the kidneys with blood. Each is directed across the crus of the diaphragm, so as to form nearly a right angle with the aorta.
The renal arteries carry a large portion of total blood flow to the kidneys. Up to a third of total cardiac output can pass through the renal arteries to be filtered by the kidneys.
The arterial supply of the kidneys is variable and there may be one or more renal arteries supplying each kidney. It is located above the renal vein. Supernumerary renal arteries (two or more arteries to a single kidney) are the most common renovascular anomaly, occurrence ranging from 25% to 40% of kidneys.
It has a radius of approximately 0.25 cm,[1] 0.26 cm at the root.[2] The measured mean diameter can differ depending on the imaging method used. For example, the diameter was found to be 5.04 ± 0.74 mm using ultrasound, but 5.68 ± 1.19 mm using angiography.[3]
Contents
- 1 Asymmetries before reaching kidney
- 2 At kidney
- 3 Diseases of the renal arteries
- 4 Additional images
- 5 References
- 6 External links
Asymmetries before reaching kidney
Due to the position of the aorta, the inferior vena cava, and the kidneys in the body, the right renal artery is normally longer than the left renal artery.
- The right passes behind the inferior vena cava, the right renal vein, the head of the pancreas, and the descending part of the duodenum.
- The right is somewhat lower than the left; it lies behind the left renal vein, the body of the pancreas and the splenic vein, and is crossed by the inferior mesenteric vein.
At kidney
Before reaching the hilus of the kidney, each artery divides into four or five branches; the greater number of these (anterior branches) lie between the renal vein and ureter, the vein being in front, the ureter behind, but one or more branches (posterior branches) are usually situated behind the ureter.
Each vessel gives off some small inferior suprarenal branches to the suprarenal gland, the ureter, and the surrounding cellular tissue and muscles.
One or two accessory renal arteries are frequently found, especially on the left side since they usually arise from the aorta, and may come off above (more common) or below the main artery. Instead of entering the kidney at the hilus, they usually pierce the upper or lower part of the organ.
Diseases of the renal arteries
Renal artery stenosis, or narrowing of one or both renal arteries will lead to hypertension as the affected kidneys release renin to increase blood pressure to preserve perfusion to the kidneys. RAS is typically diagnosed with duplex ultrasonography of the renal arteries. It is treated with the use of balloon angioplasty and stents, if necessary.
Atherosclerosis can also affect the renal arteries and can lead to poor perfusion of the kidneys leading to reduced kidney function and, possibly, renal failure.
Additional images
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3D-rendered computed tomography, showing one renal artery (in whitish color) for each kidney, partially covered by the renal veins.
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Frontal section through the kidney
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Abdominal portion of the sympathetic trunk, with the celiac and hypogastric plexuses.
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The posterior surfaces of the kidneys, showing areas of relation to the parietes.
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Front of abdomen, showing surface markings for arteries and inguinal canal.
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References
- ^ Renin-Dependent Hypertension Caused by Nonfocal Stenotic Aberrant Hypertension. 46(2):380-385, August 2005.Kem, David C.; Lyons, Daniel F.; Wenzl, James; Halverstadt, Donald; Yu, Xichun
- ^ Mathematical Modelling in Medicine. by Johnny T. Ottesen, Michael Danielsen - 2000 - Medical - 235 pages
- ^ http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/463015-overview Aytac SK, Yigit H, Sancak T, et al. Correlation between the diameter of the main renal artery and the presence of an accessory renal artery: sonographic and angiographic evaluation. J Ultrasound Med. May 2003;22(5):433-9; quiz 440-2.
External links
- MedlinePlus Image 9818
- Anatomy photo:40:11-0105 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: Branches of the Abdominal Aorta"
List of arteries of torso – abdomen
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AA |
Parietal
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- inferior phrenic (superior suprarenal)
- lumbar
- median sacral
- Coccygeal glomus
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Anterior
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celiac
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left gastric
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common hepatic
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- proper hepatic (cystic)
- right gastric
- gastroduodenal (right gastro-omental, superior pancreaticoduodenal, supraduodenal)
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splenic
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- pancreatic branches (greater, dorsal)
- short gastric
- left gastro-omental
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SMA
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- inferior pancreaticoduodenal
- intestinal (jejunal, ileal, arcades, vasa recta)
- ileocolic (colic, anterior cecal, posterior cecal, ileal branch, appendicular)
- right colic
- middle colic
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IMA
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- left colic
- sigmoid
- superior rectal
- marginal
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Posterior
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visceral
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- middle suprarenal
- renal (inferior suprarenal, ureteral)
- gonadal (testicular ♂ / ovarian ♀)
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terminal/
common iliac
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IIA
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Anterior
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umbilical
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- superior vesical
- to ductus deferens ♂
- medial umbilical ligament
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obturator
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- anterior branch
- posterior branch
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middle rectal
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uterine ♀
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- arcuate
- vaginal of uterine
- ovarian of uterine
- tubal of uterine
- spiral
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V/IV
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- vaginal ♀
- inferior vesical ♂
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inferior gluteal
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- accompanying of ischiadic nerve
- crucial anastomosis
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internal pudendal
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- inferior rectal
- perineal (posterior scrotal ♂/labial ♀)
- bulb of penis ♂/vestibule ♀
- urethral
- deep artery of the penis ♂ (helicine)/clitoris ♀
- dorsal of the penis ♂/clitoris ♀
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Posterior
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- iliolumbar (lumbar, iliac)
- lateral sacral
- superior gluteal
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EIA
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- see arteries of lower limbs
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anat (a:h/u/t/a/l,v:h/u/t/a/l)/phys/devp/cell/prot
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noco/syva/cong/lyvd/tumr, sysi/epon, injr
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proc, drug (C2s+n/3/4/5/7/8/9)
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Anatomy: urinary system (TA A08, TH H3.06, GA 11.1215)
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Abdomen |
Kidneys
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Layers
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- Renal fascia
- Renal capsule
- Renal cortex
- Renal medulla
- Renal sinus
- Renal pyramids
- medullary interstitium
- Renal lobe
- Cortical lobule
- Medullary ray
- Nephron
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Intrarenal arteries
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- Renal artery
- Segmental arteries
- Interlobar arteries
- Arcuate arteries
- Interlobular arteries
- Afferent arterioles
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Renal tubule
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- Renal corpuscle
- Glomerulus
- Bowman's capsule
- Proximal tubule
- Loop of Henle
- Descending
- Thin ascending
- Thick ascending
- Distal convoluted tubule
- Connecting tubule
- Collecting ducts aka Duct of Belini
- Renal papilla
- Minor calyx
- Major calyx
- Renal pelvis
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Intrarenal veins
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- Efferent arterioles
- Peritubular capillaries/Vasa recta
- Arcuate vein
- Interlobar veins
- Renal vein
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JGA
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- Macula densa
- Juxtaglomerular cells
- Mesangium/Extraglomerular mesangial cell
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Filtration
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- Glomerular basement membrane
- Podocyte
- Filtration slits
- Mesangium/Intraglomerular mesangial cell
- Tubular fluid
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Ureters
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- Orifice of ureter
- Adventitia
- Muscular layer
- Mucosa
- Ureteropelvic junction
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Pelvis |
Bladder
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- Apex
- Uvula
- Neck
- Median umbilical ligament
- Muscular layer
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
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Urethra
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- Urethral sphincters
- External sphincter muscle of male urethra
- External sphincter muscle of female urethra
- Internal sphincter muscle of urethra
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noco/acba/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, urte
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proc/itvp, drug (G4B), blte, urte
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