Anal canal

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Anal canal
Coronal section of rectum and anal canal.
Coronal section through the anal canal. B. Cavity of urinary bladder V.D. Ductus
deferens. S.V. Seminal vesicle. R. Second part of rectum. A.C. Anal canal. L.A.
Levator ani. I.S. Sphincter ani internus. E.S. Sphinear ani externus.
Latin canalis analis
Gray's subject #249 1184
Artery inferior rectal artery
Vein inferior rectal vein
Lymph superficial inguinal lymph node (below pectinate line) internal iliac ly
mph nodes (above line)
Precursor hindgut, proctodeum
MeSH Anal+Canal

The anal canal is the terminal part of the large intestine.[1]

It is situated between the rectum and anus,[2] below the level of the pelvic dia
phragm. It lies in the anal triangle of perineum in between the right and left i
schiorectal fossae.
In humans it is approximately 2.5 to 4 cm long, extending from the anorectal jun
ction to the anus. It is directed downwards and backwards. It is surrounded by i
nner involuntary and outer voluntary sphincters which keep the lumen closed in t
he form of an anteroposterior slit.
It is differentiated from the rectum by the transition of the internal surface f
rom endodermal to skinlike ectodermal tissue.Contents
[hide]
1 Upper and lower halves
2 Additional images
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
[edit] Upper and lower halves
The anal canal is divided into two halves, upper and lower.
The upper half has longitudinal folds or elevations of tunica mucosa. Its mucosa
is lined by simple columnar epithelium. Its lower ends are joined together by f
olds of mucus membrane called anal valves. The upper half of the anal canal is s
upplied by the superior rectal artery which is a branch of the inferior mesenter
ic artery.
The lower half of the anal canal is lined by stratified squamous epithelium that
blends with the skin. The lower half of the anal canal is supplied by the infer
ior rectal artery which is a branch of the internal pudendal artery.
A whitish line called Hilton's white line indicates the junction between keratin
ized stratified squamous epithelium and unkeratinized stratified squamous epithe
lium.
[edit] Additional images
Anatomy of the anus and rectum
Left Levator ani from within.
The interior of the anal cami and lower part of the rectum.
Median sagittal section of male pelvis.

Median sagittal section of female pelvis.

[edit] See also
Anal columns
Anal sinuses
Anal valves
Pectinate line
anus
[edit] References
^ MeSH Anal+Canal
^ anal canal at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
[edit] External links
pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
SUNY Figs 44:05-00 - "The rectum and anal canal in the male pelvis."
Anal+canal at eMedicine Dictionary v • d • e
[hide] v • d • eAnatomy of torso, digestive system: Gastrointestinal tract, excl
uding mouth (TA A05.3-7, GA 11.1141)
Upper GI Hypo- pharynx
Piriform sinus
spaces: Peripharyngeal space (Retropharyngeal space, Parapharyngeal space) Ret
rovisceral space (Retropharyngeal space, Danger space) Prevertebral space
Pterygomandibular raphe Pharyngeal raphe Buccopharyngeal fascia Pharyngoba
silar fascia
Pharyngeal muscles
Esophagus UES, LES
Stomach Gastric rugae gastric pits cardia/gland fundus/gland pylorus/gla
nd pyloric antrum pyloric canal greater curvature lesser curvature ang
ular incisure

Lower GI Intestine: small Duodenum (Suspensory muscle, Major duode

nal papilla, Minor duodenal papilla, Duodenal cap) • Duodenojejunal flexure • Je
junum • Ileum (Terminal ileum) • Ileocecal valve
continuous (intestinal villus, crypts of Lieberkühn, circular folds)
Intestine: large Vermiform appendix • Cecum • Colon (ascending colon, hep
atic flexure, transverse colon, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon
)
continuous (taenia coli, haustra, epiploic appendix)
Termination
Rectum: Houston valve • rectal ampulla • pectinate line
Anal canal: anal valves • anal sinuses • anal columns • Hilton's white line
Anus: Sphincter ani internus muscle • Sphincter ani externus muscle
Lymph GALT: Peyer's patches (M cells)

digestive system navs: anat of tract,glands,perit,diaphragm/physio/dev, nonconge

n/congen/congen of d+w/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc
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