{"id":1646,"date":"2020-08-14T11:39:17","date_gmt":"2020-08-14T11:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/abdomen-and-pelvis\/organs-and-systems\/digestive-tract\/rectum-and-anal-canal\/"},"modified":"2020-08-16T11:15:11","modified_gmt":"2020-08-16T11:15:11","slug":"rectum-and-anal-canal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/abdomen-and-pelvis\/organs-and-systems\/digestive-tract\/rectum-and-anal-canal\/","title":{"rendered":"Rectum and anal canal"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_1\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Summary<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_1\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rectum is the concluding part of the large intestine, extending from the sigmoid colon. The anal canal is the continuation of the rectum, connecting it to the anus.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_2\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Rectum<\/h3>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_2\">\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_3\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Definition<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_3\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The concluding part of the large intestine, functioning as a recipient and storage site for the end product of digestion \u2014 feces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/large-intestine.png\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Rectum and anal canal\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/large-intestine-600x404.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15711\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Large intestine and rectum<\/strong>&nbsp;(Credit: OpenStax,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Location<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rectum extends from the rectosigmoid junction which is located at the level of S3 vertebra, to the anal canal just below the tip of the coccyx.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_4\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Flexures<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_4\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When viewed laterally, the rectum has two flexures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Sacral flexure&nbsp;<\/strong>\u2014 Anterior and inferior<\/li><li><strong>Anorectal flexure&nbsp;<\/strong>\u2014 Posterior and inferior<ul><li>Has an 80-degree turn, forming the&nbsp;<strong>ampulla<\/strong>, a distended part of the rectum that stores the feces just before expulsion<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sacral flexure is intraperitoneal both on superior and lateral parts, anorectal flexure only anteriorly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When viewed anteriorly, we have 3 flexures \u2014 two on the left (superior and inferior), and one on the right (intermediate).<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_5\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Peritoneum<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_5\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rectum is considered primary retroperitoneal, and partially subperitoneal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Superior 1\/3 is covered by peritoneum anteriorly and laterally<\/li><li>Middle 1\/3 is covered by peritoneum anteriorly<\/li><li>Inferior 1\/3 is subperitoneal<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Syntopy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Males: The rectum is behind the bladder, prostate, seminal vesicles. Between the bladder and the rectum \u2013 vesicorectal septum. The rectovesical pouch is above<\/li><li>Females: The rectum is behind the vagina, between the two \u2013 rectovaginal septum. The rectouterine pouch is above<\/li><li>In both sexes \u2013 Lateral to and inferior to the rectum \u2014 pararectal fossae, lateral and inferior reflections of the peritoneum<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rectum is supported by the levator ani, anococcygeal ligament, and a membrane \u2014 paraprocteum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\" id=\"attachment_22796\"><a href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/anal_region.png\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Rectum and anal canal\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/anal_region-600x543.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22796\"\/><\/a><figcaption><strong>Ischio-anal fossa and rectum<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_6\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Anal canal<\/h3>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_6\">\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_7\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Definition<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_7\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The anal canal is the continuation of the rectum, connecting it to the anus. It functions as an internal sphincter for the passage of stool. It is located below the tip of the coccyx and the pelvic diaphragm.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_8\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Neurovasculature<\/h3>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_8\">\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_9\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Superior rectum<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_9\">\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"pure-table\"><tbody><tr><td>Blood supply<\/td><td>Venous drainage<\/td><td>Innervation<\/td><td>Lymphatic drainage<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Superior rectal artery (from the inferior mesenteric artery)<\/td><td>Internal rectal plexus joining to form the superior rectal vein, draining to the inferior mesenteric vein<\/td><td>Superior hypogastric plexus<\/td><td>Superior pararectal nodes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_10\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Middle rectum<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_10\">\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"pure-table\"><tbody><tr><td>Blood supply<\/td><td>Venous drainage<\/td><td>Innervation<\/td><td>Lymphatic drainage<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Middle rectal artery (from the internal iliac artery)<\/td><td>Middle rectal vein, draining to the internal iliac vein&nbsp;<\/td><td>Inferior hypogastric plexus<\/td><td>Middle pararectal nodes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_11\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Inferior rectum and anal canal (proctodeum)<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_11\">\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"pure-table\"><tbody><tr><td>Blood supply<\/td><td>Venous drainage<\/td><td>Innervation<\/td><td>Lymphatic drainage<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Inferior rectal artery (from the internal pudendal artery)<\/td><td>Inferior rectal veins, draining to the internal pudendal artery&nbsp;<\/td><td>Inferior hypogastric plexus<\/td><td>Epirectal nodes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/span><div id=\"the_titles\" style=\"display:none;\"><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Summary<\/h4><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rectum<\/h3><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Definition<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flexures<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Peritoneum<\/h4><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Anal canal<\/h3><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Definition<\/h4><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Neurovasculature<\/h3><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Superior rectum<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Middle rectum<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inferior rectum and anal canal (proctodeum)<\/h4><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary The rectum is the concluding part of the large intestine, extending from the sigmoid colon. The anal canal is the continuation of the rectum, connecting it to the anus. Rectum Definition The concluding part of the large intestine, functioning as a recipient and storage site for the end product of digestion \u2014 feces. Large [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1640,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1646","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Rectum and anal canal &#8211; Meddists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/abdomen-and-pelvis\/organs-and-systems\/digestive-tract\/rectum-and-anal-canal\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/meddists.com\\\/learn\\\/pre-clinical\\\/anatomy\\\/abdomen-and-pelvis\\\/organs-and-systems\\\/digestive-tract\\\/rectum-and-anal-canal\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/meddists.com\\\/learn\\\/pre-clinical\\\/anatomy\\\/abdomen-and-pelvis\\\/organs-and-systems\\\/digestive-tract\\\/rectum-and-anal-canal\\\/\",\"name\":\"Rectum and anal canal &#8211; 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