The Rectum Flashcards
The rectum is…
…the most distal segment of the large intestine
The rectum is continuous proximally with ______, and terminates _______.
the sigmoid colon, into the anal canal.
Location of the rectum
Posterior part of the lesser pelvis, in front of lower three pieces of sacrum and the coccyx
Vertebral location of the rectum
It begins at the level of the S3 (as a continuation of the sigmoid colon) & ends by becoming continuous with the anal canal at the anorectal junction.
Macroscopic differences between rectum and colon
Absence of tenia coli, haustra, and omental appendices.
Length of the rectum
12cm long
Diameter of the rectum
4cm in the upper part, same as the sigmoid colon. In the lower part, it is dilated to form the rectal ampulla.
The rectum begins as the continuation of the sigmoid colon on…
…the pelvic surface of the third piece of the sacrum.
The rectum first follows the curve of the sacrum and coccyx. True or false?
True
Direction of the rectum after curve of sacrum
It runs antero-inferiorly to the central perineal tendon lying on the anococcygeal ligament and the parts of the levator ani muscles passing to that ligament.
End direction of the rectum
It turns postero-inferiorly as the anal canal, 2-3cm from the tip of the coccyx, and immediately posterior to the central perineal tendon and to the apex of the prostate in the male.
The beginning and the end of the rectum lie in the median plane. True or false?
True
Flexure types in the rectum
Anteroposterior
Lateral
How many Antero-posterior flexures are in the rectum?
Two
What are the anteroposterior flexures of the rectum?
The sacral flexure
The perineal flexure
The sacral flexure of the rectum follows…
…the concavity of the sacrum and the coccyx. It is dorsal.
The perineal flexure of the rectum is the…
…the backward bend at the anorectal junction. It is ventral.
Rectum - Intra or Retroperitoneal?
Upper third - intraperitoneally
Middle third - retroperitoneally
Lower third - extraperitoneal
How many lateral flexure are there?
3
Lateral flexures correspond to or are formed by…
…the transverse rectal folds
Direction of the the upper lateral curve of the rectum.
It is convex to the right
Direction of the middle lateral curve
It is convex to the left
What is the most prominent lateral rectal fold?
The middle
Direction of the lower lateral curve
It is convex to the right.
Location of the upper lateral curve of the rectum
S3-S4
Location of the middle lateral curve of the rectum
Sacrococcygeal junction
Location of the lower lateral curve of the rectum
Tip of the coccyx
The distance between the anus and the floor of the recto-vesical/uterine pouch is…
7.5cm in males, 5.5cm in females.