Artery: Superior rectal artery
Sigmoid colon and rectum, showing distribution of branches of inferior mesenteric artery and their anastomoses. (Superior hemorrhoidal artery visible at center right.)
The bloodvessels of the rectum and anus, showing the distribution and anastomosis on the posterior surface near the termination of the gut. (Labeled as hemorrhoidal artery.)
Latin	arteria rectalis superior
Gray's	subject #154 610
Supplies	rectum
Source	inferior mesenteric artery
Vein	superior rectal vein

The superior rectal artery (superior hemorrhoidal artery) is an artery that descends into the pelvis to supply blood to the rectum.

Contents 1 Structure 2 Additional images 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] Structure

The superior rectal artery is the continuation of the inferior mesenteric artery. It descends into the pelvis between the layers of the mesentery of the sigmoid colon, crossing the left common iliac artery and vein.

It divides, opposite the third sacral vertebra into two branches, which descend one on either side of the rectum. About 10 or 12 cm from the anus, 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 (from the internal iliac artery) and with the inferior rectal artery (from the internal pudendal artery).

[edit] Additional images

The posterior aspect of the rectum exposed by removing the lower part of the sacrum and the coccyx.

[edit] See also

• Middle rectal artery
• Inferior rectal artery

[edit] External links

• SUNY Figs 39:02-06 - "Branches of the inferior mesenteric artery."
• SUNY Labs 39:05-0112 - "Intestines and Pancreas: Branches of the Inferior Mesenteric Artery"
• sup&infmesentericart at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
• pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (pelvicarteries)

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

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v • d • e List of arteries of torso – abdomen (TA A12.2.12-15, GA 6.598) AA Anterior celiac left gastric esophageal branches splenic pancreatic branches (greater, dorsal) · short gastric · left gastro-omental common hepatic proper hepatic (cystic) · right gastric · gastroduodenal (right gastro-omental, superior pancreaticoduodenal, supraduodenal) SMA inferior pancreaticoduodenal · intestinal (jejunal, ileal, arcades, vasa recta)  · ileocolic (colic, anterior cecal, posterior cecal, ileal branch, appendicular)  · right colic · middle colic IMA left colic · sigmoid · superior rectal · marginal Posterior visceral middle suprarenal · renal (inferior suprarenal, ureteral) · gonadal (testicular ♂ / ovarian ♀) parietal inferior phrenic (superior suprarenal) · lumbar · median sacral · Coccygeal glomus terminal/ common iliac IIA Anterior umbilical superior vesical · to ductus deferens ♂ obturator anterior branch · posterior branch middle rectal vaginal branch ♀ uterine ♀ helicine · vaginal of uterine · ovarian of uterine · tubal of uterine V/IV vaginal ♀ · inferior vesical ♂ inferior gluteal accompanying of ischiadic nerve · crucial anastomosis internal pudendal inferior rectal · perineal(posterior scrotal ♂/labial ♀) · bulb of penis ♂/vestibule ♀ · urethral · deep artery of the penis ♂ (helicine)/clitoris ♀ · dorsal of the penis ♂/clitoris ♀ Posterior iliolumbar (lumbar, iliac) · lateral sacral · superior gluteal EIA inferior epigastric (cremasteric, round ligament) · deep circumflex iliac · femoral