| rectal valves | The three or four crescentic folds placed horizontally in the rectal mucous membrane; the superior rectal fold is situated near the beginning of the rectum on the left side; the middle rectal fold (Nelaton's fold) is most prominent and consistent and projects from the right side about 8 cm above the anus (approximately the level of the floor of the rectouterine or rectovesical pouch); the inferior rectal fold is on the left side about 5 cm above the anus. Synonym: plicae transversales recti, Houston's folds, Houston's valves, Kohlrausch's valves, plicae recti, rectal folds, rectal valves. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| rectal valvotomy | Cutting through rectal folds that are too rigid or large. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rectal venous plexus | A venous plexus resting upon the posterior and lateral walls of the rectum; it drains into the superior rectal vein to the portal, the middle rectal to the internal iliac and the inferior rectal to the internal pudendal. Synonym: plexus venosus rectalis, haemorrhoidal plexus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle rectal artery | <anatomy, artery> Origin, internal iliac; distribution, middle portion of rectum; anastomoses, inferior rectal and superior rectal. Because the latter is a tributary of the portal system, this is a portosystemic or portocaval anastomosis. Synonym: arteria rectalis media, middle haemorrhoidal artery. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle rectal node | A lymph node along the middle rectal artery that receives afferents from the pararectal nodes and sends efferents to the internal iliac nodes. Synonym: middle rectal node, nodus rectalis medius. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle rectal plexuses | The autonomic plexus's along the rectum derived from the inferior hypogastric plexus. Synonym: plexus rectales medii, middle haemorrhoidal plexuses. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle rectal veins | Several veins that pass from the rectal venous plexus (in which they anastomose with the superior rectal veins) to the internal iliac vein, which ultimately drains into the inferior vena cava. Since the superior rectal veins ultimately drain into the portal vein, the middle retal veins participate in a portocaval anastomosis, and the rectal venous plexus is subject to varicosities during portal hypertension. Synonym: venae rectales mediae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle transverse rectal fold | See: transverse rectal folds. (05 Mar 2000) |
| digital rectal exam | An exam to detect rectal cancer. The doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels for abnormal areas. It is also an important screening test for the detection of prostate abnormalities, including cancer. (12 Dec 1998) |
| incontinence, rectal | Inability to hold feces in the rectum due to failure of voluntary control over the anal sphincters with involuntary passage of feces and gas. Also called faecal incontinence. (12 Dec 1998) |
| inferior rectal artery | <anatomy, artery> Origin, internal pudendal; distribution, anal canal, muscles and skin of the anal region, and skin of the buttock; anastomoses, middle rectal, perineal, and gluteal. Synonym: arteria rectalis inferior, inferior haemorrhoidal artery. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inferior rectal nerves | Several branches of the pudendal nerve that pass to the external and sphincter anoderm and skin of the anal region. Synonym: nervi rectales inferiores, inferior haemorrhoidal nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inferior rectal plexuses | The autonomic plexus's along the anus derived from the inferior hypogastric plexus. Synonym: plexus rectales inferiores, inferior haemorrhoidal plexuses. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inferior rectal veins | Veins that pass to the internal pudendal vein from the inferior rectal venous plexus around the anal canal. Synonym: venae rectales inferiores. (05 Mar 2000) |
| transverse rectal folds | The three or four crescentic folds placed horizontally in the rectal mucous membrane; the superior rectal fold is situated near the beginning of the rectum on the left side; the middle rectal fold (Nelaton's fold) is most prominent and consistent and projects from the right side about 8 cm above the anus (approximately the level of the floor of the rectouterine or rectovesical pouch); the inferior rectal fold is on the left side about 5 cm above the anus. Synonym: plicae transversales recti, Houston's folds, Houston's valves, Kohlrausch's valves, plicae recti, rectal folds, rectal valves. (05 Mar 2000) |