Superior rectal artery

Last revised by Jay Gajera on 9 Mar 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

V, Gajera J, Hacking C, et al. Superior rectal artery. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 01 Dec 2023) https://radiopaedia.org/articles/12488

DOI:

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/12488

rID:

12488

Article created:

30 Nov 2010, Vijay

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Vijay had no recorded disclosures.

View Vijay's current disclosures

Last revised:

9 Mar 2022, Jay Gajera

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Jay Gajera had no recorded disclosures.

View Jay Gajera's current disclosures

Revisions:

9 times, by 8 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Vascular, Gastrointestinal

Sections:

Anatomy

Synonyms:

Superior haemorrhoidal artery

The superior rectal artery is an artery that supplies blood to the rectum down to the level of the levator ani ².

Summary

origin: the terminal branch of the inferior mesenteric artery is the superior rectal artery
course: descends into the pelvic cavity in the sigmoid mesocolon, crossing the left common iliac vessels
branches:
- recto-sigmoid branch
- upper rectal branch
- right and left terminal branches: at the level of S3, these descend on each side of the rectum, dividing into smaller branches in the wall of the rectum
anastomoses
- middle rectal artery (branch of internal iliac artery)
- inferior rectal artery (branch of internal pudendal artery)