An investigation of potential vascular connections between the kidney and the adrenal gland.
This study was conducted on two species of monkeys, Macaca fascicularis and Macaca mulatta, to determine if there were vascular connections between the kidney and other abdominal structures such as the adrenal glands. Microfil vascular perfusions, followed by microscopic observations and dissections, were utilized to investigate the existence of these potential connections. Highly anastomotic renal capsular vessels were always observed on the outer surface of the renal capsule. However, these capsular vessels did not make connections with the subcapsular capillary plexus in the majority of monkeys studied. Vascular connections between the adrenal gland and kidney were not observed. It was concluded that, although the region between the adrenal gland and kidney was rich in vasculature, it did not appear to play an anatomical role in anastomosing the extrarenal and intrarenal circulations.
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000098:blood supply*; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply*; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008253:Macaca mulatta