Pectinate line

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Pectinate line

Pectinate line labeled at bottom center.

The interior of the anal cami and lower part of the rectum, showing the columns of Morgagni and the anal valves between their lower ends. (Pectinate line visible but not labeled.)
Latin	linea anocutanea
Dorlands/Elsevier	l_10/12496033

The pectinate line (anocutaneous line, dentate line, anal verge, anorectal junction) is a line which marks the end of the anal canal and the beginning of the rectum.

It is an important anatomical landmark, and several distinctions can be made based upon the location of a structure relative to this line:

Distinction	Above pectinate line	Below pectinate line
destination of lymph drainage	internal iliac lymph nodes, inferior mesenteric lymph nodes	superficial inguinal lymph nodes
epithelium	columnar epithelium (as is most of the digestive tract - the line represents the end of the part of the body derived from the hindgut)	stratified squamous epithelium (as is most of the skin.)
blood	superior rectal artery	inferior rectal arteries
hemorrhoids classification	internal hemorrhoids (not painful)	external hemorrhoids (painful)
nerves	inferior hypogastric plexus	inferior rectal nerves

[edit] Additional images

Microscopic cross section of the recto-anal junction.

Anatomy of the anus and rectum

Coronal section of rectum and anal canal.

[edit] External links

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 As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.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.