Renal sympathetic nerve

The renal sympathetic nerve refers to bundles of sympathetic (autonomic) efferent and afferent fibers that innervate the kidneys, primarily arising from the celiac, aorticorenal, and lumbar splanchnic plexuses and forming the renal plexus around the renal arteries. The efferent fibers regulate renal blood flow, tubular sodium reabsorption, renin secretion, and participate critically in cardiovascular homeostasis and blood pressure regulation. Afferent fibers relay sensory and chemical signals from the kidney to the central nervous system, affecting overall sympathetic tone. Pathological overactivity of these nerves contributes to hypertension and other cardiovascular/renal diseases, leading to the development of interventional treatments like renal sympathetic denervation.

Other names

Renal nervesRenal efferent nervesRenal afferent nervesRenal sympathetic innervation

Ablation/disruption of nerve fibers to reduce sympathetic outflow to the kidney, decreasing renin release, sodium retention, and renal vasoconstriction (mechanism of RDN). Indirect: Inhibition of sympathetic neurotransmission (e.g., by beta-blockers or central sympatholytics).