The middle rectal artery is an

artery An artery (plural arteries) () is a blood vessel in humans and most animals that takes blood away from the heart to one or more parts of the body (tissues, lungs, brain etc.). Most arteries carry oxygenated blood; the two exceptions are the pu ...

in the pelvis that supplies blood to the rectum.

Structure

The middle rectal artery usually arises from the

internal iliac artery The internal iliac artery (formerly known as the hypogastric 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 compa ...

. It is distributed to the rectum above the pectinate line. It

anastomoses An anastomosis (, plural anastomoses) is a connection or opening between two things (especially cavities or passages) that are normally diverging or branching, such as between blood vessels, leaf veins, or streams. Such a connection may be norm ...

with the

inferior vesical artery The inferior vesical artery (or inferior vesicle artery) is an artery of the pelvis which arises from the internal iliac artery and supplies parts of the urinary bladder as well as other structures of the urinary system and structures of the male r ...

superior rectal artery The superior rectal artery (superior hemorrhoidal 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. It descends into the p ...

, and

inferior rectal artery The inferior rectal artery (inferior hemorrhoidal artery) is an artery that supplies blood to the lower third of the anal canal below the pectinate line. Structure The inferior rectal artery arises from the internal pudendal artery as it passes ab ...

. In males, the middle rectal artery may give off branches to the

prostate The prostate is both an accessory gland of the male reproductive system and a muscle-driven mechanical switch between urination and ejaculation. It is found only in some mammals. It differs between species anatomically, chemically, and phys ...

and the

seminal vesicle The seminal vesicles (also called vesicular glands, or seminal glands) are a pair of two convoluted tubular glands that lie behind the urinary bladder of some male mammals. They secrete fluid that partly composes the semen. The vesicles are 5� ...

s. In females, the middle rectal artery gives off branches to the

vagina In mammals, the vagina is the elastic, muscular part of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vestibule to the cervix. The outer vaginal opening is normally partly covered by a thin layer of mucosal tissue called the hymen ...

Function

The middle rectal artery supplies the rectum above the pectinate line.

Additional images

File:Gray538.png, Sigmoid colon and rectum, showing distribution of branches of inferior mesenteric artery and their anastomoses. File:Middle rectal artery.jpg, Middle rectal artery

References

External links

* () Arteries of the abdomen Rectum {{circulatory-stub

Structure

Function

Additional images

See also

References

External links