Intrarenal arteries of right kidney
Arteriae intrarenales renis dextri
The arteries within the right kidney, dividing in steps from the renal hilum down to the arterioles of each glomerulus.
At a glance
- English
- Intrarenal arteries of right kidney
- Latin (TA2)
- Arteriae intrarenales renis dextri
- System
- Artery
- Region
- Trunk
- Side
- Single, on the midline
About the intrarenal arteries of right kidney
The right renal artery is longer than the left. It leaves the aorta a little below the superior mesenteric artery and passes behind the inferior vena cava to reach the right kidney, which sits slightly lower than the left because of the liver above it. Once the artery divides near the hilum, its branches are the intrarenal arteries.
The artery first splits into anterior and posterior branches lying in front of and behind the renal pelvis. These become five segmental arteries, one for each vascular segment of the kidney: apical, upper anterior, lower anterior, inferior and posterior. The segmental arteries are end arteries with no cross-connections, so the kidney is built of wedges that each depend on a single vessel. A plane with few vessels lies between the anterior and posterior territories and is used for incisions into the kidney.
Beyond the renal sinus the segmental arteries divide into interlobar arteries, which run towards the surface in the renal columns between the pyramids. At the corticomedullary junction they turn into arcuate arteries curving across the pyramid bases. Interlobular, or cortical radiate, arteries then rise into the cortex and give off the afferent arterioles. Each glomerulus drains through an efferent arteriole into the capillary network around the tubules; from glomeruli next to the medulla, the efferent vessels form the long vasa recta.
This arrangement carries about a fifth of the resting cardiac output. Additional renal arteries to the upper or lower pole are common. A lower polar artery on the right may cross in front of the ureter and has been linked with obstruction at the junction of pelvis and ureter.
Course and supply
- Arises from
- The right renal artery, after it has passed behind the inferior vena cava and divided near the hilum of the right kidney.
- Ends in
- End as the afferent arterioles of the glomeruli, continuing through efferent arterioles into the peritubular capillaries and vasa recta.
- Supplies
- Distribute blood through the right kidney for glomerular filtration and to supply the tubules and medulla.
Anthromica
See the intrarenal arteries of right kidney where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
