[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Abdomen](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/abdomen/) › Vessels inside the kidney [Cardiovascular system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/cardiovascular-system/) · [Abdomen](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/abdomen/) # Vessels inside the kidney These are the arteries and veins inside the kidney; each segmental artery feeds its own zone with no backup, so a blocked branch kills a wedge of kidney. Official name: Intrarenal arteries and veins [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=abdomen&select=intrarenal_vessels&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is The branching arteries and veins inside each kidney. ## What it does Distribute blood to about a million filtering units (nephrons) per kidney. ## Key points - Segmental arteries are end arteries: a blocked branch causes a wedge-shaped infarct, which is why partial nephrectomy follows segmental borders - Brödel's line, a relatively bloodless plane between the anterior and posterior arterial territories just behind the lateral border, is used to open the [kidney](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/kidney/) - Intrarenal veins, unlike the arteries, connect freely, so a single venous branch can be tied without harm ## Key facts **Origin** Anterior and posterior divisions of [renal artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/renal-artery/) in renal sinus, giving segmental (end) arteries **Branches** Segmental, interlobar, arcuate, interlobular (cortical radiate), afferent arteriole, glomerulus, efferent arteriole; veins mirror back to renal vein **Supplies** Renal cortex and medulla (peritubular capillaries, vasa recta); segmental arteries are end arteries with no cross-flow ## Relations **Course** Segmental arteries in the renal sinus; interlobar arteries in the renal columns between the pyramids; arcuate arteries arching over the bases of the pyramids at the corticomedullary junction; cortical radiate arteries out to the glomeruli **Contents** Five arterial segments: apical, anterior superior, anterior inferior and inferior from the anterior division; posterior from the posterior division ## How to find it Seen in partial nephrectomy or on a kidney cut open: the segmental arteries enter through the renal sinus, most of them in front of the [renal pelvis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/renal-pelvis/) and one posterior segmental artery behind it; their interlobar branches run in the renal columns between the pyramids and give the arcuate arteries at the border of cortex and medulla. ## On imaging Doppler of the interlobar and arcuate arteries gives a resistive index, used to follow transplants and obstruction. A slow-rising, low-peak (tardus–parvus) waveform suggests a narrowing upstream in the renal artery. On CT the corticomedullary phase shows a perfusion defect as a wedge. ## Common problems - Renal artery stenosis: a narrowing that can cause high blood pressure. ## Clinical notes - Emboli, as in atrial fibrillation or endocarditis, lodge in segmental or interlobar arteries and cause wedge-shaped infarcts - A renal biopsy can injure an intrarenal branch, leaving an arteriovenous fistula or a pseudoaneurysm; selective embolisation of the branch controls bleeding - The inner medulla, fed only by the vasa recta, has low oxygen levels, which helps explain renal papillary necrosis in sickle cell disease, diabetes and analgesic overuse ## Anatomical variants - Polar arteries entering the upper or lower pole directly rather than through the hilum, part of the accessory renal arteries seen in at least about 30%; each is an end artery, so tying one infarcts its territory ## Related conditions - [Chronic kidney disease](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/) - [Nephrotic syndrome](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/nephrotic-syndrome/) - [Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/post-streptococcal-glomerulonephritis/) - [Diabetic kidney disease](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/diabetic-kidney-disease/) - [Lupus nephritis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/lupus-nephritis/) - [IgA nephropathy](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/iga-nephropathy/) - [Hypertensive nephrosclerosis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/hypertensive-nephrosclerosis/) - [Polyarteritis nodosa](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/polyarteritis-nodosa/) - [Microscopic polyangiitis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/microscopic-polyangiitis/) - [Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/cryoglobulinemic-vasculitis/) ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## What is the sequence of arteries inside the kidney, from segmental to glomerulus? Segmental, interlobar, arcuate, interlobular (cortical radiate), afferent arteriole, glomerulus, then efferent arteriole; the veins mirror this back to the renal vein. ## Why does a blocked segmental artery cause a wedge-shaped infarct? Segmental arteries are end arteries with no cross-flow, which is also why partial nephrectomy follows segmental borders. ## What is Brödel's line? A relatively bloodless plane between the anterior and posterior arterial territories, just behind the lateral border of the kidney, used to open it. ## Why can a single intrarenal vein branch be tied without harm? Unlike the arteries, the intrarenal veins connect freely with each other. [Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/intrarenal-arteries-and-veins/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Arterias y venas intrarrenales **English (TA2)** Intrarenal arteries and veins Sources: [Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Renal Artery](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459158/); [25.3 Gross Anatomy of the Kidney](https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/25-3-gross-anatomy-of-the-kidney) (OpenStax (Rice University), 2022) · adapted, [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/intrarenal-arteries-and-veins/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/intrarenal-arteries-and-veins/