The pectinate line (dentate line) is a line which divides the upper two-thirds and lower third of the

anal canal The anal canal is the part that connects the rectum to the anus, located below the level of the pelvic diaphragm. It is located within the anal triangle of the perineum, between the right and left ischioanal fossa. As the final functional segme ...

. Developmentally, this line represents the

hindgut The hindgut (or epigaster) is the posterior ( caudal) part of the alimentary canal. In mammals, it includes the distal one third of the transverse colon and the splenic flexure, the descending colon, sigmoid colon and up to the ano-rectal ju ...

proctodeum A proctodeum is the back ectodermal part of an alimentary canal. It is created during embryogenesis by a folding of the outer body wall. It will form the lower part of the anal canal, below the pectinate line The pectinate line (dentate line) i ...

junction. It is an important anatomical landmark in humans, and several distinctions can be made based upon the location of a structure relative to this line:

Additional images

File:Rectoanal jxn.JPG, Microscopic cross section of the anorectal junction. File:Anorectum-en.svg , Anatomy of the anus and rectum File:Gray1078.png, Coronal section of rectum and anal canal.

References

External links

* () {{Authority control Digestive system Anatomic Landmarks