Renal arteries (English)

Overview of a coronal section of the right kidney, exposing the right renal artery and its branches. Upon traversing the renal hilum, the renal artery divides into an anterior branch and a posterior branch. The anterior branch further divides close to the hilum into 4 segmental arteries; the superior or apical, anterior superior, anterior inferior and inferior segmental arteries. The posterior branch continues as the posterior segmental arteries to supply the posterior segment of the kidney. The segmental arteries then divide into the interlobar arteries which are located in between the renal lobes. At the base of the medullary pyramids of the lobe these arteries receive the name of arcuate arteries, and they give origin to the interlobular arteries. These then enter the nephrons as afferent glomerular arterioles to bring blood to the glomerulus to be filtered. The inferior suprarenal artery as well as pelvic and utereric branches of renal artery can be seen supplying the suprarenal gland, renal pelvis and ureter, respectively.