Superior rectal artery
Encyclopedia
The superior rectal artery (superior hemorrhoidal artery) is an artery that descends into the pelvis
to supply blood to the rectum
.
. It descends into the pelvis
between the layers of the mesentery
of the sigmoid colon
, crossing the left common iliac artery
and vein.
It divides, opposite the third sacral vertebra into two branches, which descend one on either side of the rectum
. About 10 or 12 cm from the anus
, these branches break up into several small branches.
These pierce the muscular coat of the bowel and run downward, as straight vessels, placed at regular intervals from each other in the wall of the gut between its muscular and mucous coats, to the level of the internal anal sphincter; here they form a series of loops around the lower end of the rectum, and communicate with the middle rectal artery
(from the internal iliac artery
) and with the inferior rectal artery
(from the internal pudendal artery
).
Pelvis
In human anatomy, the pelvis is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the lower limbs .The pelvis includes several structures:...
to supply blood to the rectum
Rectum
The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. The human rectum is about 12 cm long...
.
Structure
The superior rectal artery is the continuation of the inferior mesenteric arteryInferior mesenteric artery
In human anatomy, the inferior mesenteric artery, often abbreviated as IMA, supplies the large intestine from the left colic flexure to the upper part of the rectum, which includes the descending colon, the sigmoid colon, and part of the rectum...
. It descends into the pelvis
Pelvis
In human anatomy, the pelvis is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the lower limbs .The pelvis includes several structures:...
between the layers of the mesentery
Mesentery
In anatomy, the mesentery is the double layer of peritoneum that suspends the jejunum and ileum from the posterior wall of the abdomen. Its meaning, however, is frequently extended to include double layers of peritoneum connecting various components of the abdominal cavity.-Mesentery :The...
of the sigmoid colon
Sigmoid colon
The sigmoid colon is the part of the large intestine that is closest to the rectum and anus. It forms a loop that averages about 40 cm...
, crossing the left common iliac artery
Common iliac artery
The common iliac arteries are two large arteries that originate from the aortic bifurcation at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra. They bifurcate into the external iliac artery and internal iliac artery ....
and vein.
It divides, opposite the third sacral vertebra into two branches, which descend one on either side of the rectum
Rectum
The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. The human rectum is about 12 cm long...
. About 10 or 12 cm from the anus
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,...
, these branches break up into several small branches.
These pierce the muscular coat of the bowel and run downward, as straight vessels, placed at regular intervals from each other in the wall of the gut between its muscular and mucous coats, to the level of the internal anal sphincter; here they form a series of loops around the lower end of the rectum, and communicate with the middle rectal artery
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...
(from the internal iliac artery
Internal iliac artery
The internal iliac artery is the main artery of the pelvis.-Structure:The internal iliac artery supplies the walls and viscera of the pelvis, the buttock, the reproductive organs, and the medial compartment of the thigh...
) and with the inferior rectal artery
Inferior rectal artery
The inferior rectal artery is an artery that supplies blood to the lower half of the anal canal.-Structure:The inferior rectal artery arises from the internal pudendal artery as it passes above the ischial tuberosity....
(from the internal pudendal artery
Internal 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...
).