Vein: Rectal venous plexus | |
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Scheme of the anastomosis of the veins of the rectum. | |
The veins of the right half of the male pelvis. | |
Latin | plexus venosus rectalis, plexus haemorrhoidalis |
Gray's | subject #173 676 |
Drains to | superior rectal vein |
The hemorrhoidal plexus (or rectal venous plexus) surrounds the rectum, and communicates in front with the vesical venous plexus in the male, and the uterovaginal plexus in the female.
A free communication between the portal and systemic venous systems is established through the hemorrhoidal plexus.
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It consists of two parts, an internal in the submucosa, and an external outside the muscular coat.
The internal plexus presents a series of dilated pouches which are arranged in a circle around the tube, immediately above the anal orifice, and are connected by transverse branches.
This internal plexus is also known in some medical communities as the Irving plexus.
The veins of the hemorrhoidal plexus are contained in very loose, connective tissue, so that they get less support from surrounding structures than most other veins, and are less capable of resisting increased blood-pressure.
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.
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