Study of Middle Rectal Artery and Its Clinical Significance

Middle rectal artery is one of the important arteries supplying the rectum, along with the superior and inferior rectal arteries. Study of middle rectal artery was undertaken as it is important in surgeries of rectal carcinoma. .For the present study 40 pelvises were procured from the department of Anatomy of Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Pune.Variations were found in the origin of middle rectal artery such as arising from the internal pudendal artery in 9 cases. In two cases it was arising from the common stem of internal pudendal and inferior gluteal arteries. It was seen arising from the inferior vesical artery in one case while in two cases middle rectal artery was arising from the obturator artery. This is the artery that penetrates the fascia of rectum which is important in mesorectal excision in cases of rectal carcinoma. It forms anastomosis with superior rectal artery .In low anterior resection of rectum; middle rectal artery is always exposed.