Quick Facts
Origin: Anterior division of the internal iliac artery.
Course: Travels medially towards the rectum.
Branches: Prostate (males) or vaginal branches (females).
Supplied Structures: Rectum, prostate (males), or vagina (females).
Origin
The left and right middle anorectal artery originates from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery.
Course
The middle anorectal artery travels anterolaterally in the mesorectum.
Branches
The middle anorectal arteries give off several branches that pierce the walls of the rectum. In males, a prostate branch is given off, while the corresponding structure in females is the vaginal branch.
Supplied Structures
The middle anorectal arteries aid in the vascular supply for the middle one third of the rectum. In males, the middle anorectal artery contributes to the vasculature of the prostate via a prostate branch. In females, the equivalent structure, the vaginal branch, contributes to the vasculature supply of the vagina.
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Artery
When the artery is occluded blood is forced through the collateral vessels, drastically increasing fluid shear stress and triggering an inflammatory response which drives vessel remodeling.
