Renal vein

Infobox Vein
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = venae renales
GraySubject = 173
GrayPage = 679

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

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Caption2 =

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

DrainsFrom = kidney
Source = interlobar veins
DrainsTo = inferior vena cava
Artery = Renal artery
MeshName = Renal+Veins
MeshNumber = A07.231.908.752The 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". [Medcyclopaedia|iv_2/m/MULTIPLE_RENAL_VEINS]

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.

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: [ [http://anatomy.med.umich.edu/gastrointestinal_system/kidney_ans.html#27 Dissector Answers - Kidney & Retroperitoneum ] ]
* 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

=Additional

ee also

*renal physiology

References

External links

* - "Retroperitoneal structures on the posterior abdominal wall."