Inferior rectal artery
Encyclopedia
The inferior rectal artery (inferior hemorrhoidal artery) is an artery
that supplies blood to the lower half of the anal canal
.
as it passes above the ischial tuberosity.
Piercing the wall of the pudendal canal
, it divides into two or three branches which cross the ischioanal fossa, and are distributed to the muscles and integument of the anal
region, and send offshoots around the lower edge of the gluteus maximus to the skin of the buttock.
They anastomose
with the corresponding vessels of the opposite side, with the superior
and middle rectal arteries
, and with the perineal artery
.
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
that supplies blood to the lower half of the anal canal
Anal canal
The anal canal is the terminal part of the large intestine.It is situated between the rectum and anus, below the level of the pelvic diaphragm. It lies in the anal triangle of perineum in between the right and left ischioanal fossa....
.
Structure
The inferior rectal artery arises from the internal pudendal arteryInternal pudendal artery
The internal pudendal artery is an artery that branches off the internal iliac artery, providing blood to the external genitalia.The internal pudendal artery is the terminal branch of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery...
as it passes above the ischial tuberosity.
Piercing the wall of the pudendal canal
Pudendal canal
The pudendal canal is an anatomical structure in the pelvis through which the internal pudendal artery, internal pudendal veins, and the pudendal nerve pass.-Structure:...
, it divides into two or three branches which cross the ischioanal fossa, and are distributed to the muscles and integument of the anal
Anus
The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest,...
region, and send offshoots around the lower edge of the gluteus maximus to the skin of the buttock.
They anastomose
Anastomosis
An anastomosis is the reconnection of two streams that previously branched out, such as blood vessels or leaf veins. The term is used in medicine, biology, mycology and geology....
with the corresponding vessels of the opposite side, with the superior
Superior rectal artery
The superior rectal artery is an artery that descends into the pelvis to supply blood to the rectum.-Structure:The superior rectal artery is the continuation of the inferior mesenteric artery...
and middle rectal arteries
Middle rectal artery
The middle rectal artery is an artery in the pelvis that supplies blood to the rectum.-Structure:The middle rectal artery usually arises with the inferior vesical artery, a branch of the internal iliac artery...
, and with the perineal artery
Perineal artery
The perineal artery arises from the internal pudendal artery, and turns upward, crossing either over or under the Transversus perinæi superficialis, and runs forward, parallel to the pubic arch, in the interspace between the Bulbocavernosus and Ischiocavernosus, both of which it supplies, and...
.