542 ABDOMEN 



breaks up into three branches, which enter the hilus, and 

 pass deeply into the renal sinus. It is overlapped by the 

 accompanying vein. The right artery is placed at a slightly 

 lower level than the left, and passes behind the inferior vena 

 cava. At the hilus two of the terminal branches as a rule lie 

 between the renal vein and the pelvis of the ureter, whilst the 

 third enters the sinus behind the pelvis of the ureter. In the 

 renal sinus the three terminal branches break up into numerous 

 smaller branches, which penetrate the kidney substance in 

 the intervals between the renal papillae (Fig. 209, p. 533). 



The renal artery gives a small branch the inferior suprarenal 

 to the suprarenal gland, and also numerous fine twigs to 

 the connective tissue around the kidney. 



The renal veins join the inferior vena cava. The vein of 

 the left side is the longer of the two. It lies behind the 

 pancreas and crosses in front of the aorta. It receives a 

 tributary from the left suprarenal gland ; it is also joined 

 by the left internal spermatic or ovarian vein. 



Arterise Spermaticae Internse (O.T. Spermatic Arteries). 

 These are two long slender vessels which spring from the front 

 of the abdominal aorta, a short way below the renal arteries. 

 Diverging from each other, each artery passes obliquely 

 downwards and laterally behind the peritoneum, to the 

 abdominal inguinal ring, where it joins the other factors of 

 the spermatic cord. As it descends it rests upon the psoas 

 magnus, and crosses anterior to the ureter and the lower end 

 of the external iliac artery. On the right side the internal 

 spermatic artery passes in front of the vena cava inferior and 

 behind the terminal part of the ileum. On the left side 

 it proceeds downwards behind the iliac colon (Fig. 184). 



In the female the corresponding arteries go to the ovaries, 

 and are consequently termed the ovarian arteries. Within 

 the abdomen proper they have the same relations as the 

 spermatic arteries except that they cross the upper ends of 

 the external iliac arteries. In the dissection of the female 

 pelvis they will be followed to their destination. 



The right internal spermatic vein joins the inferior vena cava 

 directly, whilst the left vein terminates in the left renal vein. 

 The ovarian veins end in the same manner. 



Arterise Lumbales (Lumbar Arteries). Four in number on 

 each side, they spring from the posterior aspect of the 

 abdominal aorta, in series with the intercostal arteries. At 



