Renal Vein (Noun)
Meaning
Veins that accompany renal arteries; open into the vena cava at the level of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The left renal vein is longer than the right and occupies a higher position in relation to the aorta and vena cava.
- Renal vein thrombosis is a blood clot that occurs within the renal veins and can complicate conditions like nephrotic syndrome.
- Each kidney has one renal vein that carries blood from the kidney back towards the heart to be oxygenated.
- The right renal vein empties directly into the vena cava, in contrast to the left renal vein which joins into the vena cava via the left inferior phrenic vein sometimes.
- The renal veins receive blood from many tributaries of smaller venules that originate within each kidney that are supplied by renal arteries also.