Quick Facts
Origin: Anorectal venous plexus.
Course: Travels through the ischioanal fossa to drain into the internal pudendal vein.
Tributaries: Rectal venous plexus.
Drainage: Lower third of the rectum and anal canal.
Origin
The inferior anorectal vein is formed in the rectal venous plexus surrounding the anal canal and rectum.
Course
The vein travel through the ischioanal fossa to drain into the systemic venous circulation, via the internal pudendal veins, at the posterior end of the pudendal canal.
Tributaries
The inferior anorectal vein receives tributaries from the anorectal venous plexus. It also forms anastomoses with the middle and superior anorectal veins via the anorectal venous plexus.
Structures Drained
The inferior anorectal vein drains the mucosa and muscular layers of the lower third of the rectum and anal canal.
List of Clinical Correlates
- Lower gastrointestinal bleeding
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Vein
A venous sinus is a vein with a thin wall of endothelium that is devoid of smooth muscle to regulate its diameter.
