The suprarenal veins

Abstract

The right suprarenal vein was single in eight subjects. In these, its average diameter was under 0.4 cm. and it joined the inferior vena cava (or anomaly) in five instances, on the average 3.6 cm. proximal to the right renal vein. In three instances the single vein joined a right hepatic vein close to the junction of the latter with the inferior vena cava. In these subjects the right hepatic vein was within 4.0 cm. of the right renal vein. In one subject there were two right veins, and in another, three, all of which joined the inferior vena cava between the lowest right hepatic vein and the right renal vein. In the subject with an anomalous inferior vena cava, the right vein joined the anomalous vein, passing to the right atrium and receiving blood from the right lobe of the liver. Venules from the capsule of the right suprarenal joined the main suprarenal vein, perirenal fat veins, the right renal vein, the right inferior phrenic vein, veins in relation to the peritoneal reflection and capsule of the bare area of the liver and to the inferior vena cava. The left suprarenal vein was single in all subjects and after receiving the left inferior phrenic vein had an average diameter of over 0.4 cm. It invariably joined the left renal vein, an average distance of 3.1 cm. from the junction of the latter with the inferior vena cava, and opposite or medial to the gonadal vein. The junction with the left inferior phrenic vein took place either close to the renal vein or within an average of 1.6 cm. distal to the renal vein. In one subject the left inferior phrenic vein did not join the suprarenal vein. The capsular veins on the left side joined the main suprarenal vein, the inferior phrenic vein, the perirenal fat vein and the renal vein or accessory renal vein, and ascending lumbar vein. The only subject displaying a raised blood pressure prior to death did not have any increase in diameter of the suprarenal vein. In one subject the inferior phrenic vein received a tributary from the splenic vein, a naturally occurring splenorenal anastomosis previously described [3].