Renal Artery

• Origin and course
  • Two renal arteries arise from the abdominal aorta from the lateral surface below the origin of SMA
  • Multiple renal arteries are not uncommon, seen more often on the left.
  • Right Renal artery
    • Right renal artery passes behind the IVC, Rt renal vein & head of pancreas.
    • Longer than Left renal artery.
  • Left Renal artery
    • Left renal artery lies behind the body of the pancreas, Lt renal vein and splenic vein.
    • Slightly higher than Right renal artery.
• Branches
  • The Renal arteries divides into four or five branches, eventually forming arterioles, each of which leads to the compact ball of capillaries called the glomerulus.
• Relationship
  • Right renal artery is longer, passes behind 
    • inferior vena cava 
    • right renal vein 
    • head of pancreas 
  • Left renal artery is slightly higher and lies behind
    • body of pancreas
    • left renal vein
    • Splenic vein
  • Renal veins accompany arteries
• Supplies
  • Kidney