Renal artery The renal arteries originate from the abdominal aorta and enter the renal hila to supply the kidneys. Any variant in arterial supply is important to clinicians undertaking surgery or other interventional renal procedures. Gross anatomy Origin Arises from the abdominal aorta at the L1-2 vertebral body level, inferior to the origin of the superior mesenteric artery. Course The right renal artery courses inferiorly and passes posterior to the IVC and the right renal vein to reach the r