Renal vein

One renal vein drains each kidney. A renal vein is situated anterior to its corresponding accompanying renal artery. The renal veins empty into the inferior vena cava, entering it at nearly a 90° angle. This is in contrast to the right side of the body, where these veins drain directly into the IVC. In some individuals, the left renal vein passes posterior to the abdominal aorta instead of in anterior to it; this is termed a retro-aortic left renal vein (also known as "The Vein of Schnitker"). If there is both a vein passing in front of and one behind the aorta this is called a circumaortic renal vein. In the case of a left sided IVC and the right renal vein passes behind the abdominal aorta, this is termed a retroaortic right renal vein, which is also known as “The Reverse Vein of Schnitker”. ==Clinical significance==

Diseases associated with the renal vein include renal vein thrombosis (RVT) and nutcracker syndrome (renal vein entrapment syndrome). ==Additional images==

File:3D rendered CT of abdominal aortic branches and kidneys.svg|3D-rendered computed tomography, showing one renal vein (in red color) for each kidney File:Illu kidney2.jpg|Frontal section through the kidney File:Gray480.png|Diagram showing completion of development of the parietal veins. File:Gray577.png|The venæ cavæ and azygos veins, with their tributaries. File:Slide11iii.JPG|Renal vein File:Gray1120.png|Human kidneys viewed from behind with spine removed. File:Njuren.gif|Kidney File:Slide4nn.JPG|Renal vein File:Slide14iii.JPG|Renal vein File:Slide1kkk.JPG|Renal vein ==See also==