Renal vein: Definition from Answers.com

Vein: Renal vein

The anterior surfaces of the kidneys, showing the areas of contact of neighboring viscera.

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

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

Latin

venae renales

Gray's

subject #173 679

Drains from

Source

Drains to

Artery

Renal+Veins

The renal veins are veins that drain the kidney. They connect the kidney to the inferior vena cava.

It is usually singular to each kidney, except in the condition "multiple renal veins".^[1]

It also divides into 2 divisions upon entering the kidney:

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.

1 Asymmetry
2 Pathology
3 References
4 Additional images
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

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]

left inferior phrenic vein
left suprarenal vein
left gonadal vein (left testicular vein in males, left ovarian vein in females)
left 2nd lumbar vein

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

Pathology

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

References

^ iv_2/m/MULTIPLE_RENAL_VEINS article at GE's Medcyclopaedia
^ Dissector Answers - Kidney & Retroperitoneum

Additional images

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

References

^ iv_2/m/MULTIPLE_RENAL_VEINS article at GE's Medcyclopaedia
^ Dissector Answers - Kidney & Retroperitoneum

External links

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

Veins of the torso

Thorax

Vertebral column

vertebral venous plexuses (external, internal) · spinal (posterior, anterior) · basivertebral · intervertebral

Abdomen/pelvis

To azygos system

ascending lumbar (subcostal)

IVC
(Systemic)

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

Common iliac

Unpaired	median sacral vein

External iliac	inferior epigastric · deep circumflex iliac vein

Internal iliac	posterior: iliolumbar · superior gluteal · lateral sacral anterior: inferior gluteal · obturator · uterine ♀ (uterine plexus ♀) · vesical (vesical plexus, prostatic plexus ♂, deep of penis ♂/clitoris ♀, posterior scrotal ♂/labial ♀) · vaginal plexus/vein ♀ · middle rectal · internal pudendal (inferior rectal, bulb of penis ♂/vestibule ♀) · rectal plexus

Portal vein
(Portal)

Splenic	short gastric · left gastroepiploic · pancreatic · inferior mesenteric (superior rectal, left colic)

Superior mesenteric	right gastroepiploic · pancreaticoduodenal · jejunal · ileal · middle colic · right colic · ileocolic (appendicular)

Direct	cystic · left gastric/esophageal · right gastric · paraumbilical

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 → Interlobular 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 aka Duct of Belini → 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 • Mesangium/Extraglomerular mesangial cell

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

Renal physiology	Acid base physiology • Fluid balance

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	In what way does the composition of the blood in the renal artery differ from the renal vein? Read answer...
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	Trace a drop of blood from the time it enters the kidney in the renal artery until it leaves the kidney through the renal vein? Read answer...

	Where the renal artery ureter and the renal vein enter or leave the kidney is called?
	Why is it necessary for the renal vein and renal artery to connect to the kidney for these organs to function properly?
	What are the two substance found in greater concentration in the renal artery than in the renal vein?

Renal vein

Contents

Asymmetry

Pathology

References

Additional images

See also

References

External links