Pig kidney: anatomical relationships between the intrarenal arteries and the kidney collecting system. Applied study for urological research and surgical training.

PURPOSE We present a systematic study of the anatomical relationships between intrarenal arteries and the kidney collecting system in pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS The intrarenal anatomy (collecting system and arteries) was studied in 91, 3-dimensional endocasts of the kidney collecting system together with the intrarenal arteries. RESULTS Some anatomical details that have importance to help research and surgical training in urology when using the pig as an animal model were observed and described. It was found that there was only 1 artery per kidney. This artery divided into cranial and caudal branches in 85 cases (93.4%). In 6 cases (6.6%) the primary division of the renal artery was in a dorsal and in a ventral branch. In all cases 2 arteries (1 ventral and 1 dorsal) involved the cranial caliceal group. In the dorsal mid zone a dorsal artery originated from the cranial division of the renal artery, which was obliquely positioned in 47.25% of cases. The arterial supply related to the ventral mid zone of the kidney consisted of branches that coursed horizontally in the ventral surface of the renal pelvis in 81.32% of cases. The caudal division of the renal artery supplied the ventral and dorsal surfaces of the caudal caliceal group in 84.62% of cases, while in 15.38% a dorsal artery supplied its dorsal surface. CONCLUSIONS Although the results of renal and intrarenal anatomy in pigs could not be completely transposed to humans, many similarities in the pig and human intrarenal arteries support its use as the best animal model for urological procedures.