A 77-year-old female body was received through the Saint Louis University Gift of Body Program of the Center for Anatomical Science and Education (CASE) with a signed informed consent form from the donor. The CASE gift body program abides by all the rules set forth by the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA).\nDuring routine dissection, the hilum of the left kidney was cleaned and typical anatomical structures were identified, from anterior to posterior, as the renal vein, renal artery, and superior ureteral contribution (Figures and ). Following the removal of perirenal fat, a second ureteral contribution was found exiting the kidney, slightly inferior to the hilum. The two independent contributions, superior and inferior, descended 12.4 cm and 10.6 cm before they united anterior to the left psoas major muscle to descend over the left common iliac artery to the posterolateral aspect of the bladder ().\nFurther dissection revealed an additional vascular structure, the left aberrant renal artery, entering the inferior pole of the left kidney (). Cleaning the structure revealed its origin from the abdominal aorta 4 cm inferior to the left renal artery, which branched from the aorta below the superior mesenteric artery. The aberrant renal artery was then observed travelling in parallel with, but inferior to, the left renal vein and artery toward the left kidney. This artery was also observed passing anterior to the superior and inferior ureteral contributions and bifurcated just prior to reaching the parenchyma of the inferior renal pole of the left kidney. The left ovarian artery was observed branching from the aberrant renal artery nearly halfway to the left kidney. The left ovarian artery then descended medially, but adjacent to the superior ureteral contribution, and more inferiorly, adjacent to the united ureter to supply the left ovary ().
A 42-year-old male cadaver, with history of prolonged hypertension and death due to cardiac arrest, was dissected routinely. No gross variation was seen in the cadaver. After opening the abdomen a left pelvic kidney was found at the pelvic brim with its medial end in front of sacral promontory close to the bifurcation of the right common iliac artery. First its location, position, and dimensions were analysed and compared to the right kidney. The right kidney appeared normal in position. The dimensions of the left kidney were 13.5 × 6.5 × 2.5 cm, larger than the right kidney whose dimensions were 12 × 5 × 2 cm. The left ectopic kidney was lobulated. Location: the upper pole of left kidney was located at the level of sacral promontory resting over psoas major muscle and inferior pole was present at the S3-S4 intervertebral space. The hilum was anteriorly placed, open with contents exposed to the surface as seen in . The inferior mesenteric artery was arching over the hilum. Three major calyces receiving two minor calyces were visible externally. Superior major calyx was seen reaching the upper pole while middle and inferior major calyces were seen close to the hilum all converging to form pelvis of ureter. Normal hilar relation was disturbed. At the hilum the renal pelvis was present anterior to the inferior left renal vein. The left ureter was tortuous and just 12 cm in length. Both suprarenal glands were present at the level of 12th thoracic vertebra. Blood supply: the left kidney was vascularised by three branches. The first branch arose from the bifurcation of aorta at the level of L4 vertebra; it was 4.5 cm long and descended obliquely to superior pole of kidney. The second branch was 2.5 cm and arose from the right common iliac artery at a slightly lower level (L4-L5) and was seen passing to superior pole. The third branch was 4.3 cm long arising at S5 level from left inferior vesical artery. The ectopic kidney was drained by two renal veins which drained into the right common iliac vein. The superior left renal vein accompanied the second renal artery while the inferior left renal vein emerged through the hilum.\nThe left suprarenal gland was supplied by left inferior phrenic artery and from direct branches from aorta. The left gonadal vein drained directly into the inferior vena cava rather than draining into the left renal vein. Left suprarenal vein drained into IVC.\nThe right kidney was at the normal position. However the hilum was present anteriorly and a bifid renal pelvis could be seen which was also malrotated. Its vascularisation was by a single renal artery originating from aorta. A single renal vein was seen draining into the inferior vena cava. No gross variation was seen in the cadaver.