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How does the renal artery enter each kidney?
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renal system
Diagram showing the location of the kidneys in the abdominal cavity and their attachment to major arteries and veins.
The renal artery enters each kidney through a deep vertical cleft located on the inner concave border of the organ known as the hilum (or hilus).12
Once the renal artery passes through this opening, it typically divides into two large branches, which then further subdivide into smaller arteries to supply blood to the nephrons, the functional units of the kidney.1