| rectal valvotomy | Cutting through rectal folds that are too rigid or large. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| 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 lymph 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 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) |
| superior rectal artery | <anatomy, artery> Origin, inferior mesenteric; distribution, upper part of rectum; anastomoses, middle and inferior rectal. As a tributary of the portal vein, its anastomosis with these arteries forms a portosystemic or portocaval anastomosis. Synonym: arteria rectalis superior, superior haemorrhoidal artery. (05 Mar 2000) |
| superior rectal lymph nodes | Nodes of the inferior mesenteric group, located along the superior rectal artery. Synonym: nodi lymphatici rectales superiores. (05 Mar 2000) |
| superior rectal plexus | The autonomic plexus derived as a continuation of the inferior mesenteric plexus that accompanies the superior rectal artery. Synonym: plexus rectalis superior, superior haemorrhoidal plexus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| superior rectal vein | <anatomy, vein> It drains the greater part of the rectal venous plexus, and ascends between the layers of the mesorectum to the brim of the pelvis, where it becomes the inferior mesenteric vein. As a tributary of the portal vein, it forms a portocaval anastomosis with the middle and inferior rectal veins (caval tributaries) via the rectal venous plexus. Synonym: vena rectalis superior. (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) |