Posterior Segmental Artery of Kidney
Arteria segmenti posterioris renis
Read moreQuick Facts
Origin: Posterior branch of renal artery.
Course: Passes posterior to the renal pelvis, superiorly and laterally.
Branches: Interlobar branches.
Supplied Structures: Posterior lobe of the kidney.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The posterior segmental artery is the direct continuation of the posterior branch of the renal artery. Its name changes as it passes through the hilum of the kidney (renal sinus).
Course
The posterior segmental artery passes posterior to the renal pelvis and travels laterally, more or less horizontally.
Branches
The posterior segmental artery gives rise to interlobar branches, usually one for each renal pyramid within the posterior lobe of the kidney.
Supplied Structures
The posterior segmental artery supplies the posterior lobe of the kidney, which includes all of the central-posterior surface of the kidney. This excludes the superior and inferior poles and a small posterolateral portion (Rani et al., 2014).
List of Clinical Correlates
- The segmental arteries of the kidney are virtual end arteries. They supply non-overlapping “segments” of kidney tissue. In other words, the segments are defined by the vascular territories of the segmental arterial branches. This has important implications in kidney segmental resection.
References
Rani, N., Singh, S., Dhar, P. and Kumar, R. (2014) 'Surgical importance of arterial segments of human kidneys: an angiography and corrosion cast study', Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR, 8(3), pp. 1-3.
