Kidney Blood Flow

Quizzes

Background Information

Oxygenated blood flows toward the kidney from the descending aorta via the renal artery. Before entering the kidney, the renal artery separates into several segmental arteries. As they pass through the renal hilum, the segmental arteries divide to form the interlobar arteries. These vessels carry blood through the renal columns located between the renal pyramids. The blood flows into the arcuate arteries, which enter the renal lobes at the renal cortex and renal medulla boundary.

Each arcuate artery supplies blood to several cortical radiate (or interlobular) arteries that extend perpendicularly into the renal cortex. Numerous afferent arterioles branch from the cortical radiate arteries and deliver blood to the glomerular capillaries, where blood filtrate enters the capsules of nearby nephrons. The filtered blood is carried away from the glomeruli by efferent arterioles, which divide into peritubular and vasa recta capillaries. These capillary beds twist around the cortex and medullary portions of the nephron tubules. As blood flows through these capillary networks, the filtrate composition changes due to the reabsorption of essential substances into the bloodstream and the secretion of waste products into the nephron tubules.

Blood removal from the kidneys starts when capillaries empty blood into cortical radiate (interlobular) veins in the renal cortex. These veins transport blood to the arcuate veins, which run parallel to arcuate arteries along the corticomedullary junction. After exiting the renal lobes, the arcuate veins join the interlobar veins, transporting blood through the renal columns and the renal hilum. Finally, blood leaves the kidney through the renal vein and is carried back to the heart through the inferior vena cava.

Kidney Vessel Identification:
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