Step 1: Begin by understanding the anatomy of the kidney's blood supply. The renal artery is the main vessel that delivers oxygenated blood to the kidney. It branches into smaller arteries as it progresses deeper into the kidney structure.
Step 2: Learn the sequence of branching. The renal artery first divides into segmental arteries, which are responsible for supplying specific segments of the kidney.
Step 3: The segmental arteries further branch into interlobar arteries. These arteries travel between the renal pyramids in the medulla toward the cortex.
Step 4: The interlobar arteries then branch into arcuate arteries, which curve along the boundary between the medulla and cortex of the kidney.
Step 5: Finally, the arcuate arteries give rise to interlobular arteries, which extend into the cortex to supply the nephrons, the functional units of the kidney.