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 ]]<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> 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]]