Middle rectal plexus
Encyclopedia
The middle rectal plexus is a nerve plexus
which supplies the middle part of the rectum
.
It is a branch of the inferior hypogastric plexus
.
The middle rectal plexus was previously referred to by anatomists as Copeland's web, due to its identification by biologist Charles Copeland and the design of his anatomical drawings in the early 1900s.
Plexus
A plexus is a part of nervous system. Plexus has a slightly different definition in vertebrates and in invertebrates.- In vertebrates :In vertebrates, a plexus is an area where nerves branch and rejoin. The electrical signals do not mix; rather, the fibres travel together with their electrical...
which supplies the middle part of 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...
.
It is a branch of the inferior hypogastric plexus
Inferior hypogastric plexus
The inferior hypogastric plexus is a plexus of nerves that supplies the viscera of the pelvic cavity.The inferior hypogastric plexus is a paired structure, with each situated on the side of the rectum in the male, and at the sides of the rectum and vagina in the female.-Sources:Contributions to...
.
The middle rectal plexus was previously referred to by anatomists as Copeland's web, due to its identification by biologist Charles Copeland and the design of his anatomical drawings in the early 1900s.