The Anatomy of the Rectum and Anal Canal
BASIC SCIENCE identify the rectosigmoid junction with confidence at operation. The anatomy of the rectum The rectosigmoid junction usually lies approximately 6 cm below the level of the sacral promontory. Approached from the distal and anal canal end, however, as when performing a rigid or flexible sigmoid- oscopy, the rectosigmoid junction is seen to be 14e18 cm from Vishy Mahadevan the anal verge, and 18 cm is usually taken as the measurement for audit purposes. The rectum in the adult measures 10e14 cm in length. Abstract Diseases of the rectum and anal canal, both benign and malignant, Relationship of the peritoneum to the rectum account for a very large part of colorectal surgical practice in the UK. Unlike the transverse colon and sigmoid colon, the rectum lacks This article emphasizes the surgically-relevant aspects of the anatomy a mesentery (Figure 1). The posterior aspect of the rectum is thus of the rectum and anal canal. entirely free of a peritoneal covering. In this respect the rectum resembles the ascending and descending segments of the colon, Keywords Anal cushions; inferior hypogastric plexus; internal and and all of these segments may be therefore be spoken of as external anal sphincters; lymphatic drainage of rectum and anal canal; retroperitoneal. The precise relationship of the peritoneum to the mesorectum; perineum; rectal blood supply rectum is as follows: the upper third of the rectum is covered by peritoneum on its anterior and lateral surfaces; the middle third of the rectum is covered by peritoneum only on its anterior 1 The rectum is the direct continuation of the sigmoid colon and surface while the lower third of the rectum is below the level of commences in front of the body of the third sacral vertebra.
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