Superior Segmental Artery of Kidney
Arteria segmenti superioris renis
Read moreQuick Facts
Origin: Anterior branch of renal artery.
Course: Passes anterior to the renal pelvis, superiorly and laterally.
Branches: Interlobar branches.
Supplied Structures: Superior (or apical) lobe of the kidney.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The superior segmental artery of the kidney is one of four branches of the anterior branch of the renal artery that usually occurs in the hilum of the kidney (renal sinus).
Course
The superior segmental artery of the kidney passes anterior to the renal pelvis, steeply superior and laterally towards the superior pole of the kidney.
Branches
The superior segmental artery of the kidney gives rise to interlobar branches, usually one for each renal pyramid within the apical and superior lobes of the kidney.
Supplied Structures
The superior segmental artery of the kidney supplies the superior (or apical) lobe of the kidney. This includes the entire superior pole, including the anterior and posterior surfaces of the kidney (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.
