ABSTRACT
The morphology of the extraglandular and intraglandular portions of the adrenal veins and other veins concerned with the catheterization in adrenal venography was observed on 53 adult cadavers.The extraglandnlar portion of both adrenal veins is of single trunk type on all the specimens. The left adrenal vein consistently ends into the left renal vein while the right adrenal vein ends into the inferior vena cava in 83.02% of cases and into the right accessory hepatic vein in 9.43%.The length and diameter of the extraglandular portion of the left adrenal vein are 23.05?5.96 mm and 4.99?0.82 mm and those of the right adrenal vein are 8.73?5.13 mm and 2.93 ? 0.87 mm. The angle formed by the left adrenal and left renal veins is 117.35?11.95? and that formed by right adrenal vein and inferior vena cava is 47.5?14.58?.The distances from the femoral vein(lower margin of inguinal ligment)through the external and common iliac veins and inferior vena cava to the hila of both adrenal glands were measured. They may be used as references in performing adrenal venography.The intraglandular portion of the adrenal veins is of three types: single, double and triple trunk types. The single trunk type is the most common occurring in 86% of the left adrenal veins and 50% of the right veins. The triple trunk type exists only on the right side.In addition, the feasibilities and difficulties of the catheterization of the both adrenal veins were discussed according to the anatomy studied.