The Adrenal Bodies

The right adrenal lies against the inner part of the anterior pole of the right kidney. When hardened in situ it is pyramidal in form. Its inner surface is flattened and is in contact with the right crus of the diaphragm. The outer surface is convex and lies in the renal impression of the liver. The ventral surface is grooved for the posterior vena cava; on this surface a relatively large vein emerges near the apex. The base is concave and rests obliquely against the anterior pole of the kidney. The apex fits into the angle between the posterior vena cava and the dorsal border of the liver.

The left adrenal lies on the inner face of the posterior vena cava just behind the anterior mesenteric artery, and is therefore practically median in position. It is flattened, and irregularly triangular or heart-shaped in outline. Its left face is related to the dorsal sac of the rumen. Its right face is related to the vena cava, and presents a large emergent vein. The posterior border or base is deeply notched.

It is interesting to note that the left adrenal does not migrate with the kidney, but retains its primitive position; it lies usually about two inches (ca. 5 cm.) in front of a transverse plane through the anterior pole of the left kidney.

The adrenals of the sheep are both bean-shaped. The right one lies along the anterior part of the inner border of the kidney, at the angle of the junction of the right renal vein and the posterior vena cava. It is a little over an inch (ca. 3 cm.) long, and about an inch (ca. 12 to 15 mm.) wide. The left adrenal is longer, flatter, and somewhat bent. It lies across the left renal vein, to which it is attached, but is not in contact with the kidney.