Renal artery

• Renal arteries arise from the abdominal aorta at about L1 or L2, below the origin of the superior mesenteric artery.

• They arise from the lateral surface of Aorta

• Right renal artery passes behind the inferior vena cava to reach the right kidney

• There can be more than one artery

Renal Veins 

• Renal veins drain into inferior vena cava

• Left Renal vein
  • The left renal vein courses between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery to join the inferior vena cava.
  • The left renal vein passes in front of Aorta
  • The left gonadal vein will drain into to left renal vein. 
  • The right gonadal vein drains directly into the inferior venal cava.

• Right Renal vein

  • The right renal vein is anterior to the right renal artery.
  •  It is shorter than the left vein.

Applied Anatomy