The superior rectal artery (superior hemorrhoidal artery) is an artery that descends into the

pelvis The pelvis (: pelves or pelvises) is the lower part of an Anatomy, anatomical Trunk (anatomy), trunk, between the human abdomen, abdomen and the thighs (sometimes also called pelvic region), together with its embedded skeleton (sometimes also c ...

to supply blood to the

rectum The rectum (: rectums or recta) is the final straight portion of the large intestine in humans and some other mammals, and the gut in others. Before expulsion through the anus or cloaca, the rectum stores the feces temporarily. The adult ...

Structure

The superior rectal artery is the continuation of the inferior mesenteric artery. It descends into the

between the layers of the

mesentery In human anatomy, the mesentery is an Organ (anatomy), organ that attaches the intestines to the posterior abdominal wall, consisting of a double fold of the peritoneum. It helps (among other functions) in storing Adipose tissue, fat and allowi ...

of the sigmoid colon, crossing the left

common iliac artery The common iliac artery is a large artery of the abdomen paired on each side. It originates from the aortic bifurcation at the level of the 4th lumbar vertebra. It ends in front of the sacroiliac joint, one on either side, and each bifurcates ...

and vein. It divides, opposite the third sacral vertebra into two branches, which descend one on either side of the

. About 10 or 12 cm from the

anus In mammals, invertebrates and most fish, the anus (: anuses or ani; from Latin, 'ring' or 'circle') is the external body orifice at the ''exit'' end of the digestive tract (bowel), i.e. the opposite end from the mouth. Its function is to facil ...

, 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 The middle rectal artery is an artery in the pelvis that supplies blood to the rectum. Structure The middle rectal artery usually arises from the internal iliac artery. It is distributed to the rectum above the pectinate line. It anastomoses wi ...

(from the internal iliac artery) and with the inferior rectal artery (from the internal pudendal artery).

Function

The superior rectal artery supplies the

and the

Pathology

The superior rectal artery may be enlarged in patients with hemorrhoids. The superior rectal artery may be embolized to treat patients with symptomatic internal hemorrhoids in a procedure called hemorrhoidal artery embolization.

Additional images

File:Gray1077.png, The posterior aspect of the rectum exposed by removing the lower part of the sacrum and the coccyx.

References

External links