What is the blood vessel that follows the renal artery?

The blood vessel that follows the renal artery is the renal vein. The renal artery supplies blood to the kidneys, while the renal vein drains deoxygenated blood away from the kidneys and returns it to the inferior vena cava. The renal vein typically runs parallel to the renal artery, but they may have different anatomical paths as they approach the heart.