Morphology and morphometry of renal arteries in Indian cadavers

The classical arrangement of renal hilar structures in popular anatomy texts is described as: renal vein, renal artery, and renal pelvis arranged from anterior to posterior. Variations in this arrangement frustrate the vascular surgeon while creating splenorenal anastomoses and performing segmental nephrectomies. The study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy in conjunction with the Department of Anatomy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi on 100 renal blocks in the period of 3 years (2019-2022). Course of renal arteries was classified in the following types: straight ascending, straight descending, straight horizontal, sinuous, tortuous, upward curved, and downward curved. Distance from superior mesenteric artery for left renal artery was 0.83±1.05 cm while it was 0.90±1.11 cm for right renal artery. Length of left renal artery was 2.85±1.29 cm, and right renal artery was 3.70±1.34 cm. The length of right renal artery was longer than left renal artery (P<0.001). Multiple arteries were seen in 24.5% of cases. Renal arteries commonly arose from lateral surface of aorta in 88.93% and from anterior surface in 11.07%. Most common course taken by either of the renal artery was straight horizontal (40.48% left, 33.59% right) followed by straight descending (33.33% left, 31.35% right). Hilar renal artery was the most common type observed (95.24% left and 93.75% right). On an average renal artery on either side gave three branches.