Left renal vein
Vena renalis sinistri
Definition
The left renal vein (vena renalis sinistra) is a prominent vessel responsible for the venous drainage of the left kidney to the caudal vena cava.
In most domestic species, the left renal vein emerges from the renal hilus medially, where it collects tributaries from the renal parenchyma and adjacent organs. It traverses a short distance anteriorly and medially to reach the caudal vena cava (vena cava caudalis), into which it empties. Unlike the right renal vein, which is typically shorter and drains directly into the caudal vena cava, the left renal vein usually has a longer course, passing ventral or slightly cranial to the abdominal aorta.
Across all species, the left renal vein generally receives the following tributaries:
Intralobar and interlobar renal veins from within the kidney parenchyma.
Left adrenal vein draining the adrenal gland.
Left gonadal vein (testicular or ovarian), which may enter the renal vein directly or indirectly via a separate trunk.
Ureteral veins, which may be small but are consistently present.
Lumbar veins, when not draining independently into the caudal vena cava.
References
Dyce KM, Sack WO, Wensing CJG. Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy. 4th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. p. 284–287.
Nickel R, Schummer A, Seiferle E. The Anatomy of the Domestic Animals. Volume 2: The Viscera. 2nd ed. Berlin: Parey; 1979. p. 274–279.
König HE, Liebich HG. Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Mammals: Textbook and Colour Atlas. 6th ed. Stuttgart: Schattauer; 2020. p. 406–409.
Evans HE, de Lahunta A. Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog. 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders; 2013. p. 566–568.
Getty R, editor. Sisson and Grossman’s The Anatomy of the Domestic Animals. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1975. p. 963–969.
