Avascular plane of kidney

The junction of the anterior and posterior branches of the main renal artery in the renal parenchyma creates a relatively avascular plane, the avascular plane of kidney (Brodel’s line), that is located at  the section of renal parenchyma between 2/3 anterior and 1/3 posterior kidney on the cross-section, just posterior to the lateral convex border of the kidney.

It is the preferred track of placing percutaneous nephrostomies and should be considered when performing biopsies of a native or transplanted kidney. Because of the orientation of the kidney, the entry through a posterior calyx usually traverse the Brodel’s line.