Rectum And Anal Canal Flashcards
Rectum
. 5 inches long
. Continuous proximally w/ the sigmoid colon rectosigmoid junction at S3) and distally w/ anal canal (at puborectalis m.)
. Retroperitoneal: sup. 1/3 has peritoneum on ant. And lat. surface, middle 1/3 has it on ant. Surface, inf. 1/3 has no peritoneal covering
. 2 flexures laerally, 3 anteriorly
What is found posterior to rectum?
. Last 3 sacral vertebrae and coccyx
. Anococcygeal ligament and piriformis mm.
. Sacral vessels and nerves
. Sympathetic trunks
What structures are directly anterior to rectum?
. Males: bladder, ureters, prostate, ductus deferens, seminal vesicles, rectovesical pouch, rectovesical septum
. Females: vagina and uterus, rectouterine pouch, rectouterine (vaginal) septum
What structures are lateral to rectum
. Pelvic colon
. Ileum
. Coccygeus
. Levator ani m.
Lateral flexures of rectum
. Sacral flexure: rectum following curve of sacrum and coccyx
. Anorectal flexure: rectum ends anteroinferior to tip of coccyx by turning sharply posteroinferiorly as it goes through pelvic diaphragm (angle caused by encircling fibers of puborectalis)
Rectum curvatures
. Superior, middle, and inferior curvatures
. Due to 3 internal infoldings of mucous and submucous coats overlying part of circular muscle layer of rectal wall (transverse rectal folds)
. Olds help support rectal contents
. Sup. And inf. Curves are concave to the left
. Middle curve is concave to the right
Anal canal
. Inf. 1.5 inches of GI tract
. Continuous w/ rectum at anorectal junction (marked by anorectal flexure)
. Inf. Opening of anal canal: anal orifice/anus
Anatomical relations of the anal canal
. Post.: coccyx and anococcygeal ligament
. Ant.: perineal body (central tendon of perineum)
. Lat.: external anal sphincter, ischioanal fossa
Muscular layer of anal canal wall
. Internal anal sphincter: thickening of circular smooth muscle layer of rectum under ANS control
. External anal sphincter: voluntary skeletal muscle, subcutaneous portion (directly under skin forming complete ring), superficial portion (elliptical, tip of coccyx/anococcygeal ligament to perineal body)m and deep portion (completely encircles anus)
. Innervated by inf. Rectal n. From pudendal n.
Anal columns
. Series of 5-10 longitudinal ridges in anal canal
. Contain terminal branches of sup. Rectal a. And v.
. Anorectal junction indicated by superior ends of anal columns
Anal sinuses
. Depressions btw adjacent columns, sup. To anal valves
. When compressed by poo, anal sinuses exude mucus that aids in evacuation of feces
Anal valves
. Horizontal folds of tissue, joins inf. Ends of adjacent anal columns
Anal crypt
. Inf. Portion of anal sinus
. Deep to anal valve
. Fecal matter can become trapped here causing infection
Pectinate line
. Irregular comb-shaped line drawn around circumference of anal canal
. Connects all anal valves
. Sup. To line: from endoderm
. Inf. To line: from ectoderm
. Areas sup, and inf. To line have different blood supply, innervation, and lymph drainage
Sup. Rectal a.
. Unpaired
. Terminal branch of inf. Mesenteric a.
. Supplies rectum and sup. Part of anal canal to level of anal columns
Middle rectal a.
. Paired
. From internal iliac aa.
. Supplies inf. 1/3 of rectum and anal canal
. Supplies muscular layer of anal canal
Inferior rectal a.
. Paired
. From internal pudendal aa.
. Supplies inf. Part of anal canal
. Anastomoses w/ sup. Rectal a. At level of anal columns
Superior rectal v.
. Sup. Tp pectinate line
. Drains into portal system via inf. Mesenteric v.
. Inc. portal pressure (portal hypertension) can cause internal hemorrhoids
Middle rectal v.
. Drains muscular layer
. Forms anastomoses w/sup. And inf. Rectal vv.
. Drains into internal iliac v.