Medial border of suprarenal gland

The medial border of the suprarenal (adrenal) gland is the margin of the gland that faces toward the midline of the body and is intimately related to the great retroperitoneal vessels. Its specific anatomical relations differ by side:

Right suprarenal gland: The medial border is closely related to the inferior vena cava (IVC). The right adrenal gland lies directly posterior to the IVC, and cadaveric studies have shown that the gland extends behind the IVC by an average of 8 mm (range 0-12 mm). The medial border also relates to the right crus of the diaphragm.

Left suprarenal gland: The medial border is related to the aorta and the left crus of the diaphragm. The left adrenal gland sits just lateral to the aorta, and the medial border is where the body of the gland faces the para-aortic region. Inferiorly, the medial aspect is closely related to the left renal vein, with an average distance of only 8 mm (range 0-18 mm); in some cases the gland lies directly on the renal vein.