The renal cortex and medulla contain a complex network of blood vessels. The interlobar arteries which pass between the renal pyramids, arch around the base of the pyramid as the arcuate arteries.
These give off a series of branches which enter the cortex as interlobular arterioles. From these arterioles branch the afferent arterioles. Each afferent arteriole divides into a capillary network called the glomerulus, which subsequently converges back into a single efferent arteriole.
This efferent arteriole leads away from the glomerulus into the medullary substance and becomes the vasa recta.
From the efferent arteriole arises the peritubular capillary plexus.
