Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyVariationsFunctionConditions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy
Variations
Function
Conditions
The renal veins are blood vessels that return blood to the heart from the kidney. Each kidney has its own renal vein, called the right and left renal veins. Each renal vein drains into a large vein called theinferiorvena cava(IVC), which carries blood directly to the heart.
This article will teach you about the anatomy and function of the renal veins and the medical conditions associated with them.
Anatomy of the Renal Veins
The other major structures in the renal hilum are the renal artery and renal pelvis (which carries urine away), both of which are located behind the renal vein.
The left renal vein is longer than the right. It crosses in front of theaortaand behind the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) as it drains into the inferior vena cava.
Smaller veins that typically drain into the left renal vein include:
Variations in Renal Vein Anatomy
Variations in renal vein anatomy usually affect the left renal vein rather than the right.
Although most patients with these anatomic variations are asymptomatic, it is important to know about them if kidney surgery is planned.
Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen / Getty Images
What Is the Function of the Renal Veins?
The kidneys rid the blood of excess or toxic substances, excreting them into the urine. The kidneys also control the amount of water and dissolved substances removed from the blood, ensuring a constant volume and composition of body fluids.
Conditions of the Renal Veins
Renal Vein Thrombosis
Acute renal vein thrombosis may also arise from trauma. In newborns, severe dehydration may also result in renal vein thrombosis.
People with renal vein thrombosis may or may not have symptoms. Symptoms are more likely if the clot develops quickly and may include:
Renal vein thrombosis that has developed slowly may not cause any symptoms and may be discovered incidentally with imaging studies. Clots that develop in the renal vein may break loose and travel to the lungs, a condition calledpulmonary embolism.
Kidney cancercan sometimes invade the renal vein, causing a special type of renal vein thrombus called “tumor thrombus.” Duringsurgical removal of a kidney tumor, surgeons may be able to remove associated tumor thrombus.
Nutcracker Syndrome
Nutcracker syndrome occurs when the left renal vein is compressed between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). This happens when the space between the SMA and the aorta—which the renal vein must pass through—is too narrow.
Nutcracker syndrome is a vaguely defined condition. There is no agreement on its exact cause or how it should be diagnosed.
The condition is associated with thin body types, and it is thought that the lack of intra-abdominal fat between the SMA and aorta may cause the narrowing of the angle between the vessels.
Patients with nutcracker syndrome may have symptoms such as:
Young patients with nutcracker syndrome may outgrow their symptoms. Patients with severe symptoms may require surgical treatment.
Summary
Most people have two renal veins. One returns blood to the heart from the right kidney, the other from the left. The renal veins return filtered blood to the heart through the inferior vena cava.
Some people have variations in their renal veins such as two left renal veins. The renal veins are also associated with certain medical conditions, including renal vein thrombosis and nutcracker syndrome.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Elsevier.Left renal vein.Hostiuc S, Rusu MC, Negoi I, Dorobanțu B, Grigoriu M.Anatomical variants of renal veins: A meta-analysis of prevalence.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):10802. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-47280-8Guerci P, Ergin B, Ince C.The macro- and microcirculation of the kidney.Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2017;31(3):315-329. doi:10.1016/j.bpa.2017.10.002Greenberg KI, Choi MJ.Understanding hypercoagulability with nephrotic syndrome: How the clot thickens.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol.2023;18(2):149-151. doi:10.2215/CJN.0000000000000054Kolber MK, Cui Z, Chen CK, Habibollahi P, Kalva SP.Nutcracker syndrome: Diagnosis and therapy.Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2021;11(5):1140-1149. doi:10.21037/cdt-20-160
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Elsevier.Left renal vein.Hostiuc S, Rusu MC, Negoi I, Dorobanțu B, Grigoriu M.Anatomical variants of renal veins: A meta-analysis of prevalence.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):10802. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-47280-8Guerci P, Ergin B, Ince C.The macro- and microcirculation of the kidney.Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2017;31(3):315-329. doi:10.1016/j.bpa.2017.10.002Greenberg KI, Choi MJ.Understanding hypercoagulability with nephrotic syndrome: How the clot thickens.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol.2023;18(2):149-151. doi:10.2215/CJN.0000000000000054Kolber MK, Cui Z, Chen CK, Habibollahi P, Kalva SP.Nutcracker syndrome: Diagnosis and therapy.Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2021;11(5):1140-1149. doi:10.21037/cdt-20-160
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Elsevier.Left renal vein.Hostiuc S, Rusu MC, Negoi I, Dorobanțu B, Grigoriu M.Anatomical variants of renal veins: A meta-analysis of prevalence.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):10802. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-47280-8Guerci P, Ergin B, Ince C.The macro- and microcirculation of the kidney.Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2017;31(3):315-329. doi:10.1016/j.bpa.2017.10.002Greenberg KI, Choi MJ.Understanding hypercoagulability with nephrotic syndrome: How the clot thickens.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol.2023;18(2):149-151. doi:10.2215/CJN.0000000000000054Kolber MK, Cui Z, Chen CK, Habibollahi P, Kalva SP.Nutcracker syndrome: Diagnosis and therapy.Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2021;11(5):1140-1149. doi:10.21037/cdt-20-160
Elsevier.Left renal vein.
Hostiuc S, Rusu MC, Negoi I, Dorobanțu B, Grigoriu M.Anatomical variants of renal veins: A meta-analysis of prevalence.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):10802. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-47280-8
Guerci P, Ergin B, Ince C.The macro- and microcirculation of the kidney.Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2017;31(3):315-329. doi:10.1016/j.bpa.2017.10.002
Greenberg KI, Choi MJ.Understanding hypercoagulability with nephrotic syndrome: How the clot thickens.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol.2023;18(2):149-151. doi:10.2215/CJN.0000000000000054
Kolber MK, Cui Z, Chen CK, Habibollahi P, Kalva SP.Nutcracker syndrome: Diagnosis and therapy.Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2021;11(5):1140-1149. doi:10.21037/cdt-20-160
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