ANATOMY Adrenal glands

ANATOMY Adrenal glands

The weight of a normal adrenal gland is approximately 4 /uni00A0 g. The adrenal glands are paired and situated in the retroperi - - toneum, near the upper poles of the kidneys, within Gerota’s - capsule. They are not symmetrical. The right adrenal gland is located between the right liver lobe and the diaphragm, close to and partly behind the inferior vena ca va (IVC). The left - adrenal gland lies superior–medial to the upper pole of the left kidney and the renal pedicle. It is covered by the pancreatic tail and the spleen ( Figure 57.1 ). Each adrenal gland is supplied by multiple small arterial branches from three main vessels: the aorta, the inferior phrenic artery and the renal artery . A usually - single large adrenal vein drains into the IVC on the right side and into the renal vein on the left side.

Figure 57.1 Anatomy of the adrenal glands.