Renal vein

the anterior branch which receives blood from the anterior portion of the kidney and,
the posterior branch which receives blood from the posterior portion.

Often, each renal vein will have a branch that receives blood from the ureter.

Asymmetry

Because the inferior vena cava is on the right half of the body, the left renal vein is generally the longer of the two.

Because the inferior vena cava is not laterally symmetrical, the left renal vein often receives the following veins:^[2]

This is in contrast to the right side of the body, where these veins drain directly into the IVC.

Diseases associated with the renal vein include renal vein thrombosis (RVT) and nutcracker syndrome (renal vein entrapment syndrome).

Frontal section through the kidney

Diagram showing completion of development of the parietal veins.

The venæ cavæ and azygos veins, with their tributaries.

Human kidneys viewed from behind with spine removed.

Kidney

SUNY Figs 40:06-05 - "Retroperitoneal structures on the posterior abdominal wall."

v • d • e

To IVC or left renal vein	inferior phrenic - hepatic (central veins of liver, liver sinusoid) - suprarenal - renal - gonadal (ovarian ♀/testicular ♂, pampiniform plexus ♂) - lumbar - common iliac

To azygos system	ascending lumbar (subcostal)

Fetal

v • d • e Urinary system – Kidney

Layers	Renal fascia • Renal capsule • Renal cortex (Renal column) • Renal medulla (Renal sinus, Renal pyramids, medullary interstitium) • Renal lobe • Cortical lobule • Medullary ray • Nephron

Afferent circulation	Renal artery → Segmental arteries → Interlobar arteries → Arcuate arteries → Cortical radial arteries → Afferent arterioles → Renal corpuscle (Glomerulus, Bowman's capsule)

Renal tubule	Proximal tubule → Loop of Henle (Descending, Thin ascending, Thick ascending) → Distal convoluted tubule → Connecting tubule → Collecting ducts → Duct of Bellini → Renal papilla → Minor calyx → Major calyx → Renal pelvis → Ureter

Efferent circulation	Glomerulus → Efferent arterioles → Peritubular capillaries / Vasa recta → Arcuate vein → Interlobar veins → Renal vein

Juxtaglomerular apparatus	Macula densa • Juxtaglomerular cells • Extraglomerular mesangial cell

Filtration	Glomerular basement membrane • Podocyte • Filtration slits • Intraglomerular mesangial cell • Tubular fluid

Renal physiology	Acid base physiology • Fluid balance

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