Final answer:
The network of blood vessels in the kidney is crucial for their structure and function. The renal arteries branch out from the aorta and enter the kidney, dividing into interlobar and arcuate arteries. The cortical radiate arteries branch into afferent arterioles, which supply the nephrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The network of blood vessels in the kidneys is essential for their structure and function. Blood enters and exits the kidneys at the renal hilum, and the renal blood supply starts with the branching of the aorta into the renal arteries. These arteries divide further into interlobar arteries that enter the renal columns, which supply the renal lobes. At the junction of the renal cortex and medulla, the interlobar arteries form arcuate arteries, and from there, cortical radiate arteries radiate out and branch into afferent arterioles that enter the capillaries supplying the nephrons.