Anatomical relationship between the intrarenal arteries and the kidney collecting system.

The anatomical relationship between the intrarenal arteries and the renal collecting system was studied in 82, 3-dimensional endocasts. Some anatomical details that have importance for urologists were observed. The arterial supply related to the upper caliceal group arises from 2 arteries that encircle these calices (in 86.6% 1 trunk originated from the anterior division and 1 from the posterior division of the renal artery). The artery to the mid kidney courses horizontally in the mid renal pelvis in 64.6% of the cases while the arterial supply to the inferior pole (front and back) arises from the inferior segmental artery of the anterior division in 62.2%. The posterior segmental artery is related to the upper infundibulum or to the junction of the pelvis with the upper calix in 57.3% of the cases and to the middle posterior aspect of the renal pelvis in 42.7%.