Anat Cell Biol.  2012 Mar;45(1):57-61. 10.5115/acb.2012.45.1.57.

Abnormal patterns of the renal veins

• Anjamrooz
• Azari H
• Abedinzadeh M

• KMID: 1447454
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2012.45.1.57

Abstract

Knowledge of the renal vascular anatomy may greatly contribute to the success of surgical, invasive and radiological procedures of the retroperitoneal region. Here, morphometric and histological studies of a human cadaveric specimen presented a complex, anomalous pattern of renal veins. The left renal vein had an oblique retro-aortic course and received two lumbar veins. It bifurcated near its drainage point into the inferior vena cava. The right renal vein received the right testicular vein. In addition, the left kidney was located at a low position. The spleen was enlarged. The present case is unique and provides information that may help surgeons or angiologists to apply safer interventions.

Keyword

Renal veins; Kidney transplantation; Kidney; Inferior vena cava; Spleen

MeSH Terms

Cadaver
Drainage
Humans
Kidney
Kidney Transplantation
Renal Veins
Spleen
Veins
Vena Cava, Inferior

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Left retroperitoneal space dissection shows the abnormal drainage of a retro-aortic bifid left renal vein into the inferior vena cava. The variant termination of the 1st and 3rd lumbar veins into the left renal vein is also seen. (A) The abdominal aorta is dissected to show the bifid termination of the retro-aortic left renal vein. (B) The left kidney and structures that pass through its hilum are shown in their reflected position. AA, abdominal aorta; D, diaphragm; FLLV, first left lumbar vein; IVC, inferior vena cava; LK, left kidney; LRA, left renal artery; LRV, left renal vein; LSRG, left suprarenal gland; LSRV, left suprarenal vein; LTV, left testicular vein; PM, psoas major; Pm, psoas minor; QL, quadrates lumborum; RDC, right diaphragmatic crus; RK, right kidney; RRA, right renal artery; RTV, right testicular vein; SC, sympathetic chain; TLLV, third left lumbar vein; U, ureter; VC, vertebral column.

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  Fig. 2 Right retroperitoneal space dissection shows; (A) the abnormal drainage of additional testicular vein into the right renal vein. (B) Light micrograph illustrating a histological section of testicular vein before drainage into the right renal vein. (C) Right testicular artery with accompanying veins in a common sheath (right, schematic illustration; left, histological section) (B, ×200; C, ×100). ATV, additional testicular vein; D, diaphragm; HV, hepatic vein; IVC, inferior vena cava; PM, psoas major; RK, right kidney; RRV, right renal vein; RSRG, right suprarenal gland; RTA, right testicular artery; U, ureter.

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  Fig. 3 Retroperitoneal space dissection. (A) The greatly enlarged spleen forced the left kidney below the level of the right kidney. (B) The isolated enlarged spleen. LK, left kidney; RK, right kidney; S, spleen; SA, splenic artery; SV, splenic vein.

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