Blood supply to the Kidneys
BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE KIDNEYS Fig.1 Each kidney receives blood supply from the Renal Artery. The Renal Artery (See Fig.1) arises directly from the aorta (the main trunk that carries blood from the heart). After the blood has flown through the kidney tissue, the venules unite to form the renal vein that directly drains into the Inferior Vena Cava (the main trunk that carries blood towards the heart). Each Kidney has normally one renal artery and one renal vein. Sometimes there can be an additional smaller renal artery supplying the upper pole or the lower pole of the kidney. Rarely, there can be more than one renal vein. The main renal artery soon divides into the segmental artery that continues as an interlobar artery. Interlobar artery branches to form interlobular artery which finally forms the arcuate artery. The arcuate gives rise to afferent arteriole that forms the capillary tuft called ...