Blood Supply of the Kidney

Blood Supply of the Kidney

Proper kidney structure and function is dependent on adequate blood supply:

• The renal artery, which branches out from your abdominal aorta enters the kidney in the renal hilus.
• Each renal artery divides into the smaller afferent arterioles in the kidney.
• The afferent arterioles in the renal cortex separate into bundles of capillaries called glomeruli.
• Each glomerulus recollects into a smaller efferent arteriole that descends into the renal medulla.
• Each efferent arteriole separates into peritubular capillaries near the renal tubules.
• Peritubular capillaries merge, forming veins that drain into the renal vein.
• The renal vein exits each kidney to join the inferior vena cava, which transports blood back to your heart.