Arcuate arteries of the kidney

By Shoummojit Roy on December 26, 2012 in Urinary System

Arcuate arteries of the kidney Definition

The term refers to the branches of the interlobar arteries of the kidney. These create arches over the pyramidal base.

Arcuate arteries of the kidney Appearance

These are curved in appearance. Due to the shape of the renal medulla, these arteries are arc-shaped. This gives the structures their unique name.

They turn at the junction of the medulla and the cortex and proceed in an approximately parallel direction to the kidney surface and at 90 degrees to the parent stem.

Arcuate arteries of the kidney Location

These can be found at the border of the renal medulla and the renal cortex.

Arcuate arteries of the kidney Function

It helps in the circulation of the blood.

Arcuate arteries of the kidney – Role in Renal Parenchyma Supply

Each and every renal artery supplies the kidney through renal hilum by getting divided into segmental branches. These branches supply the renal parenchyma as further divided vessels, which include:

The segmental artery gets divided into interlobar arteries that are present on either side of every single renal pyramid
The interlobar arteries further divide to develop arcuate arteries. It is at the 90 degrees to the arcuate arteries where the interlobular arteries
The interlobular arteries go through the cortex and divide for the last time to develop afferent arterioles, which form a capillary network called the glomerulus.
At the glomerulus, the filtration occurs. And then these capillaries collectively form efferent arterioles. These arterioles are called peritubular network in a specific portion of the outer cortex. They supply oxygen and essential nutrients to the nephron tubules.
The inner cortex and the medulla, on the other hand, is supplied the essentials via long and straight arteries known as vasa recta.