Artery: Inferior rectal artery
The inferior rectal arteries(unlabeled) surround the anus.
The bloodvessels of the rectum and anus, showing the distribution and anastomosis on the posterior surface near the termination of the gut. (Labeled as hemorrhoidal artery.)
Latin	arteria rectalis inferior, arteria hæmorrhoidalis inferior
Gray's	subject #155 619
Supplies	anal canal
Source	internal pudendal artery
Vein	Inferior rectal veins
Dorlands / Elsevier	a_61/12155662

The inferior rectal artery (inferior hemorrhoidal artery) is an artery that supplies blood to the lower half of the anal canal.

Structure

The inferior rectal artery arises from the internal pudendal artery as it passes above the ischial tuberosity.

Piercing the wall of the pudendal canal, it divides into two or three branches which cross the ischioanal fossa, and are distributed to the muscles and integument of the anal region, and send offshoots around the lower edge of the gluteus maximus to the skin of the buttock.

They anastomose with the corresponding vessels of the opposite side, with the superior and middle rectal arteries, and with the perineal artery.

See also

• Superior rectal artery
• Middle rectal artery
• Inferior rectal nerve

Additional images

The perineum. The integument and superficial layer of superficial fascia reflected.

External links

• SUNY Figs 41:04-05 - "Inferior view of female perineum, branches of the internal pudendal artery."
• SUNY Figs 42:03-05 - "Branches of internal pudendal artery in the male perineum."
• SUNY Anatomy Image 9077
• SUNY Anatomy Image 9085
• Norman/Georgetown perineum (analtriangle3)
• Human anatomy at Dartmouth figures/chapter_32/32-2.HTM
• Human anatomy at Dartmouth figures/chapter_32/32-3.HTM

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

This cardiovascular system article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.