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Interlobar arteries of kidney

The interlobar arteries are major segmental branches of the renal artery that course within the renal sinus and columns of Bertin to supply the renal parenchyma. After entering the hilum, the renal artery divides into anterior and posterior segmental arteries. These segmental arteries give rise to the interlobar arteries, which run between adjacent renal pyramids toward the corticomedullary junction.

At the corticomedullary junction, each interlobar artery branches into arcuate arteries, which then give rise to interlobular arteries supplying the renal cortex and glomeruli.

The interlobar arteries form the critical pathway of blood supply from the main renal artery to the nephron’s filtration units. Disruption (e.g., by embolism, thrombosis, trauma, or iatrogenic injury) can result in renal infarction.

Synonyms

  • Arteriae interlobares renis

  • Interlobar renal arteries

  • Segmental branches of renal artery

Function

  • Carry blood from segmental arteries to arcuate arteries

  • Run within the renal columns of Bertin between pyramids

  • Serve as conduits for oxygenated blood to reach the cortex and glomeruli

  • Essential for maintaining renal perfusion and filtration

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Interlobar arteries appear as linear flow voids (black lumina) within renal columns, surrounded by intermediate signal parenchyma

T2-weighted images:

  • Lumen appears as signal void, contrasting with hyperintense collecting system if fluid is present

  • Helps visualize renal perfusion defects indirectly through parenchymal changes

STIR:

  • Suppresses surrounding fat, highlighting interlobar arteries within renal sinus fat

  • Useful in detecting perivascular edema or inflammatory changes

T1 Fat-Saturated (Pre-contrast):

  • Lumen often shows intermediate signal, standing out against suppressed renal sinus fat

  • Improves visualization of artery course within the kidney

T1 Fat-Saturated Post-Contrast (Gadolinium):

  • Interlobar arteries enhance brightly and homogeneously

  • Useful for detecting stenosis, filling defects, or abnormal vascularization

MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography):

  • Contrast-enhanced MRA clearly shows the renal artery branching pattern into segmental → interlobar → arcuate arteries

  • Helps evaluate stenosis, emboli, infarcts, and vascular anomalies

  • Non-contrast techniques (time-of-flight or phase contrast) may also visualize interlobar branches

CT Appearance

CT Pre-Contrast:

  • Interlobar arteries appear as faint linear soft-tissue densities within renal sinus fat

  • Limited diagnostic value, but calcified plaques may be visible

CT Post-Contrast:

  • Interlobar arteries opacify brightly with contrast, visible coursing between pyramids

  • Demonstrates perfusion defects in renal infarcts as wedge-shaped hypodensities

CT Angiography (CTA):

  • Gold standard for renal arterial mapping

  • Clearly shows interlobar arteries branching from segmental arteries toward corticomedullary junction

  • Multiplanar and 3D reconstructions highlight renal arterial tree

  • Critical for renal transplant evaluation, renal artery stenosis, embolization planning, and trauma assessment

MRI image

Interlobar arteries (kidney) MRI coronal anatomy image -img-00000-00000

CT images

Interlobar arteries (kidney) ct coronal image 1

CT images

Interlobar arteries (kidney) ct coronal image