Renal Nerves as an Agent Acting on the Kidneys

Abstract

Motor (sympathetic) nerves to the kidneys come from the lower thoracic and upper lumbar segments of the spinal cord (Mitchell, 1950). Mainly via the splanchnic nerves they become involved in the plexus about the aorta containing the coeliac and aorticorenal ganglia and then well defined interlacing strands run in the renal pedicle, particularly along the renal arteries. Denervation of the kidney requires at least section of the strands in the pedicle by clearing away all tissue except the artery, vein and ureter. There are ganglion cells along the renal arteries as far as the hilum of the kidney but not in the renal parenchyma, which means that the strands in the pedicle are a mixture of pre- and post-ganglionic fibres. In its gross anatomy the sympathetic renal nerve supply is typical of the sympathetic system and is closely mixed with the supply to abdominal viscera, especially gut and suprarenal glands.