Sudeck point
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At the time the article was created Andrew Dixon had no recorded disclosures.
View Andrew Dixon's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Yaïr Glick had no recorded disclosures.
View Yaïr Glick's current disclosures- Sudeck's point
The Sudeck point (or Sudeck critical point) refers to a specific location in the arterial supply of the rectosigmoid junction, namely the origin of the last sigmoid arterial branch from the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) 1.
This arterial branch usually forms an anastomosis with a branch of the superior rectal artery. The anastomosis is small and often only singular.
Related pathology
Sudeck point has particular relevance in colorectal surgery and also forms a watershed zone where the rectal wall is susceptible to ischemic colitis. That said, the Sudeck point is less susceptible to ischemia than the Griffiths point, thanks to the submucosal arterial plexus formed by branches of the superior, middle, and inferior rectal arteries.
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References
- 1. van Tonder JJ, Boon JM, Becker JH et-al. Anatomical considerations on Sudeck's critical point and its relevance to colorectal surgery. Clin Anat. 2007;20 (4): 424-7. doi:10.1002/ca.20417 [pubmed citation]
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