Renal vein 1580594 202283756 2008-03-31T12:57:37Z Wikid77 1403682 put 2 bullets; @Infobox_Vein, condensed 17 captions as 2-column table; put left-side bars & aligned keywords; aligned image gallery to fit 800x600 screen (3 images per row) {{Infobox Vein | Name = {{PAGENAME}} | Latin = venae renales | GraySubject = 173 | GrayPage = 679 | Image = Gray1122.png | Caption = The anterior surfaces of the kidneys, showing the areas of contact of neighboring viscera. | Image2 = Kidney PioM.png | Caption2 = <table><tr><td align=left><small>1. [[Renal pyramid|Renal pyramid&nbsp;]]<BR>2. [[Efferent artery]]<br>3. [[Renal artery]]<br>4. [[Renal vein]]<br>5. [[Hilum of kidney|Renal hilum]]<br>6. [[Renal pelvis]]<BR>7. [[Ureter]]<BR>8. [[Minor calyx]]<BR>9. [[Renal capsule]]</td><td align=left><small>10. [[Inferior renal capsule]]<BR>11. [[Superior renal capsule|Superior renal<br> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; capsule]]<BR>12. [[Afferent vein]]<BR>13. [[Nephron]]<BR>14. [[Minor calyx]]<BR>15. [[Major calyx]]<BR>16. [[Renal papilla]]<BR>17. [[Renal column]]</td></tr></table> | DrainsFrom = [[kidney]] | Source = [[interlobar veins]] | DrainsTo = [[inferior vena cava]] | Artery = [[Renal artery]] | MeshName = Renal+Veins | MeshNumber = A07.231.908.752 }} The '''renal veins''' are [[vein]]s 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".<ref>{{Medcyclopaedia|iv_2/m/MULTIPLE_RENAL_VEINS}}</ref> 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:<ref>[http://anatomy.med.umich.edu/gastrointestinal_system/kidney_ans.html#27 Dissector Answers - Kidney & Retroperitoneum<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> * 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== {{reflist}} ==Additional images== <gallery> Image:Illu kidney2.jpg|Frontal section through the kidney Image:Gray480.png|Diagram showing completion of development of the parietal veins. Image:Gray577.png|The venæ cavæ and azygos veins, with their tributaries. </gallery> <gallery> Image:Gray1120.png|Human kidneys viewed from behind with spine removed. Image:Njuren.gif|Kidney </gallery> ==See also== *[[renal physiology]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{SUNYAnatomyFigs|40|06|05}} - "Retroperitoneal structures on the posterior abdominal wall." {{Veins}} {{kidney}} [[Category:Kidney]] {{circulatory-stub}} [[fr:Veine rénale]] [[fi:Munuaislaskimo]]