Mesorectal fascia
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Sarah Robertson had no recorded disclosures.
View Sarah Robertson's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had the following disclosures:
- Integral Diagnostics, Shareholder (ongoing)
- Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures- Mesorectal fascia (MRF)
The mesorectal fascia is a layer of connective tissue enclosing the perirectal fat that surrounds the rectum. It is an important anatomical structure in rectal cancer staging, as it forms the circumferential resection margin for the non-peritonealised portion of the rectum.
On this page:
Summary
location: envelopes the perirectal fat which surrounds the rectum within the pelvis
boundaries: extends from the beginning of the rectum to levator ani
contents: perirectal fat which contains the superior rectal artery and branches, superior rectal vein and tributaries, and lymph nodes and vessels
Gross anatomy
The mesorectal fascia begins at the rectosigmoid junction where it blends with the connective tissue of the sigmoid mesentery. It extends to the end of the rectum at levator ani. Laterally it extends around the rectum and perirectal fat and becomes contiguous anteriorly with the rectovesical fascia (Denonvilliers fascia). Posteriorly it fuses with the presacral fascia (Waldeyer fascia). Note that a variable circumference of the rectum is enveloped by the mesorectal fascia, owing to the fact that the peritoneum reflects off the anterior aspect of the middle and upper thirds of the rectum.
Contents
-
encloses the perirectal fat which in turn contains:
superior rectal artery and branches
superior rectal vein and tributaries
lymph nodes and vessels
Relations
posterior: presacral fascia, S3-S5, coccyx, median sacral nerves, sacral sympathetic chain
-
anterior:
inferior: piriformis muscle
lateral: sigmoid colon, terminal ileum
ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads
See also
Quiz questions
Question 3130
A semi-annular upper rectal cancer has it's distal edge approximately 12 cm from the anal verge, and is located posteriorly with the invasive front noted between the 4 o'clock and 7 o'clock positions. The tumor is noted to invade through the muscularis propria by 8 mm, making contact with the posterior mesorectal fascia. The correct stage is:
References
- 1. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. ISBN: 9780702052309
Incoming Links
Related articles: Anatomy: Abdominopelvic
- skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis
- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
- spaces of the abdomen and pelvis
- anterior abdominal wall
- posterior abdominal wall
- abdominal cavity
- pelvic cavity
- perineum
- abdominal and pelvic viscera
- gastrointestinal tract
- spleen
- hepatobiliary system
-
endocrine system
-
adrenal gland
- adrenal vessels
- chromaffin cells
- variants
- pancreas
- organs of Zuckerkandl
-
adrenal gland
-
urinary system
-
kidney
- renal pelvis
- renal sinus
- avascular plane of Brodel
-
variants
- number
- fusion
- location
- shape
- ureter
- urinary bladder
- urethra
- embryology
-
kidney
- male reproductive system
-
female reproductive system
- vulva
- vagina
- uterus
- adnexa
- Fallopian tubes
- ovaries
- broad ligament (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- embryology
- blood supply of the abdomen and pelvis
- arteries
-
abdominal aorta
- inferior phrenic artery
- celiac artery
- superior mesenteric artery
- middle suprarenal artery
- renal artery (variant anatomy)
- gonadal artery (ovarian artery | testicular artery)
- inferior mesenteric artery
- lumbar arteries
- median sacral artery
-
common iliac artery
- external iliac artery
-
internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
- anterior division
- umbilical artery
- superior vesical artery
- obturator artery
- vaginal artery
- inferior vesical artery
- uterine artery
- middle rectal artery
-
internal pudendal artery
- inferior rectal artery
-
perineal artery
- posterior scrotal artery
- transverse perineal artery
- artery to the bulb
- deep artery of the penis/clitoris
- dorsal artery of the penis/clitoris
- inferior gluteal artery
- posterior division (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- anterior division
-
abdominal aorta
- portal venous system
- veins
- anastomoses
- arterioarterial anastomoses
- portal-systemic venous collateral pathways
- watershed areas
- arteries
- lymphatics
- innervation of the abdomen and pelvis
- thoracic splanchnic nerves
- lumbar plexus
-
sacral plexus
- lumbosacral trunk
- sciatic nerve
- superior gluteal nerve
- inferior gluteal nerve
- nerve to piriformis
- perforating cutaneous nerve
- posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves
- pudendal nerve
- nerve to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus muscles
- nerve to internal obturator and superior gemellus muscles
- autonomic ganglia and plexuses
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.