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Renal vein
 
 
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The renal veins are vein
Vein

In the circulatory system, veins are blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary vein and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated blood....
s that drain the kidney
Kidney

The kidneys are Organ that have numerous biological roles. Their primary role is to maintain the homeostasis balance of bodily fluids by filtering and secreting Metabolomics#Metabolitess and minerals from the blood and excreting them, along with water , as urine....
. They connect the kidney to the inferior vena cava
Inferior vena cava

The inferior vena cava is the large vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the lower half of the body into the right atrium of the heart....
.

It is usually singular to each kidney, except in the condition "multiple renal veins".

It also divides into 2 divisions upon entering the kidney:



Often, each renal vein will have a branch that receives blood from the ureter.








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The renal veins are vein
Vein

In the circulatory system, veins are blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary vein and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated blood....
s that drain the kidney
Kidney

The kidneys are Organ that have numerous biological roles. Their primary role is to maintain the homeostasis balance of bodily fluids by filtering and secreting Metabolomics#Metabolitess and minerals from the blood and excreting them, along with water , as urine....
. They connect the kidney to the inferior vena cava
Inferior vena cava

The inferior vena cava is the large vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the lower half of the body into the right atrium of the heart....
.

It is usually singular to each kidney, except in the condition "multiple renal veins".

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
Inferior vena cava

The inferior vena cava is the large vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the lower half of the body into the right atrium of the heart....
 is not laterally symmetrical, the left renal vein often receives the following veins:
  • left inferior phrenic vein
    Inferior phrenic vein

    The Inferior Phrenic Veins drain the diaphragm and follow the course of the inferior phrenic arteries;* the right ends in the inferior vena cava;...
  • left suprarenal vein
  • left gonadal vein
    Gonadal vein

    In medicine, gonadal vein refers to the blood vessel that carrying blood away from the gonad toward the heart.* Females : ovarian vein* Males : testicular 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
Renal vein thrombosis

Renal vein thrombosis is the formation of a clot or thrombus obstructing the renal vein, leading to a reduction in drainage of the kidney....
 (RVT) and nutcracker syndrome
Nutcracker syndrome

In medicine, the nutcracker syndrome ? also known as nutcracker phenomenon, renal vein entrapment syndrome, or mesoaortic compression of the left renal vein ? is a compression of the left renal vein between the abdominal aorta and superior mesenteric artery ....
 (renal vein entrapment syndrome).

Additional images



See also

  • renal physiology
    Renal physiology

    Renal physiology is the study of the physiology of the kidney. This encompasses all functions of the kidney, including reabsorption of glucose, amino acids, and other small molecules; regulation of sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes; regulation of fluid balance and blood pressure; maintenance of acid-base balance; and the production...


External links

- "Retroperitoneal structures on the posterior abdominal wall."