Middle rectal artery
Encyclopedia
The middle rectal artery is an artery
in the pelvis that supplies blood to the rectum
.
The middle rectal artery usually arises with the inferior vesical artery
, a branch of the internal iliac artery
. It is distributed to the rectum
, anastomosing with the inferior vesical artery
, superior rectal artery
, and inferior rectal artery
.
In males, the middle rectal artery may give off branches to the prostate
and the seminal vesicle
s, while in females it gives off branches to the vagina
.
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
in the pelvis that supplies 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
Inferior vesical artery
The inferior vesical artery is an artery in the pelvis that supplies the lower part of the bladder.-Structure:The inferior vesical artery is a branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It frequently arises in common with the middle rectal artery, and is distributed to the...
, a branch of 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...
. It is distributed 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...
, anastomosing with the inferior vesical artery
Inferior vesical artery
The inferior vesical artery is an artery in the pelvis that supplies the lower part of the bladder.-Structure:The inferior vesical artery is a branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It frequently arises in common with the middle rectal artery, and is distributed to the...
, superior rectal artery
Superior rectal artery
The superior rectal 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...
, and 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....
.
In males, the middle rectal artery may give off branches to the prostate
Prostate
The prostate is a compound tubuloalveolar exocrine gland of the male reproductive system in most mammals....
and the seminal vesicle
Seminal vesicle
The seminal vesicles or vesicular glands are a pair of simple tubular glands posteroinferior to the urinary bladder of male mammals...
s, while in females it gives off branches to the vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
.