Renal vein
Last revised by Calum Worsley on 28 Nov 2023
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Worsley C, Hacking C, et al. Renal vein. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 30 Nov 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-25941
rID:
25941
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresLast revised:
28 Nov 2023, Calum Worsley ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Calum Worsley had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Calum Worsley's current disclosuresRevisions:
8 times, by 7 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Renal veins
- Renal vein anatomy
The renal veins are asymmetric paired retroperitoneal veins that drain the kidneys.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
Course
The renal vein is formed by the union of two-to-three renal parenchymal veins in the renal sinus. It emerges from the renal hilum anterior to the renal artery and drains into the inferior vena cava at the level of L2.
The left renal vein is much longer, at 6-7 cm, than the right renal vein, at 3-4 cm, but they have a similar caliber (~1.2 cm). The left renal vein courses anteriorly to the abdominal aorta.
Tributaries
Left renal vein
- left gonadal vein
- left inferior phrenic vein
- left adrenal vein
- small branches from kidney capsule, proximal ureter and renal pelvis
Right renal vein
- small branches from kidney capsule, proximal ureter and renal pelvis
Variant anatomy
See article: renal vein anomalies.
Related pathology
References
- 1. Geoffrey D. Rubin, Neil M. Rofsky. CT and MR Angiography. (2009) ISBN: 9780781745253 - Google Books
- 2. Michael Schünke, Erik Schulte, Udo Schumacher. Thieme Atlas of Anatomy. (2006) ISBN: 9783131420916 - Google Books
- 3. Mauro MA, Murphy KP, Thomson KR et-al. Image-Guided Interventions: Expert Radiology Series. Saunders. ISBN:B00E6GB08K. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Adrenal gland
- Surgical splenorenal shunt
- Vascular compression disorders
- Common iliac vein
- Para-aortic lymph nodes
- Adrenal veins
- Superior mesenteric artery compression disorders
- Tributaries of the inferior vena cava (mnemonic)
- Kidneys
- Threads and streaks sign
- Abernethy malformation
- Spontaneous splenorenal shunt
- Renal artery
- RENAL nephrometry scoring system
- AAST kidney injury scale
- Contrast agent pooling sign
- Abdominal compartment syndrome
- Renal arteriovenous fistula
- Ovarian vein thrombosis
- Retroaortic left renal vein
Cases:
- Transposition of inferior vena cava
- Pelviureteric junction obstruction by accessory renal vein
- Renal cell carcinoma
- Cardiac arrest (CT)
- Circumaortic left renal vein
- Metastatic locally invasive renal cell carcinoma
- Truncal venous development (Gray's illustrations)
- Retroaortic left renal vein
- Hepatic hydatid cyst and Nutcracker phenomenon
- Adrenal cortical carcinoma
- Left renal vein thrombosis
- Nutcracker phenomenon
- Left testicular varicocele - nutcracker phenomenon
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- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
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- perineum
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- hepatobiliary system
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endocrine system
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adrenal gland
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kidney
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female reproductive system
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