Yuniarti

The anal canal is the terminal part

of the large intestine and of the
entire digestive canal. It extends
from the superior aspect of the
pelvic diaphragm to the anus

The canal (2.5-3.5 cm

long) begins where the
rectal ampulla narrows at
the level of the U-shaped
sling formed by the
puborectalis muscle

The anal canal, surrounded by internal and external anal sphincters

The internal anal sphincter is an involuntary sphincter surrounding the superior two
thirds of the anal canal
The external anal sphincter is a large voluntary sphincter that forms a broad band on
each side of the inferior two thirds of the anal canal
Internally, the superior half of
the mucous membrane of the
anal canal is characterized by
a series of longitudinal ridges
called anal columns. These
columns contain the terminal
branches of the superior rectal
artery and vein.
The inferior ends of the anal
columns are joined by anal
valves. Superior to the valves
are small recesses called anal
sinuses.
The inferior comb-shaped limit
of the anal valves forms an
irregular line, the pectinate
line, that indicates the junction
of the superior part of the anal
canal

The anal canal superior to

the pectinate line differs
from the part inferior to the
pectinate line in its arterial
supply, innervation, and
venous and lymphatic
drainage
The superior rectal artery
supplies the anal canal
superior to the pectinate.
The two inferior rectal
arteries supply the anal
canal inferior to the
pectinate line as well as the
surrounding muscles and
perianal.
The middle rectal arteries
assist with the blood supply
to the anal canal by forming
anastomoses with the
superior and inferior rectal
arteries.

The internal rectal venous plexus drains in both directions from the level of the
pectinate line
Superior to the pectinate line, the internal rectal plexus drains chiefly into the superior
rectal vein
Inferior to the pectinate line, the internal rectal plexus drains into the inferior rectal
veins (tributaries of the caval venous system) around the margin of the external anal
sphincter.
The middle rectal veins
(tributaries of the internal iliac
veins) mainly drain the muscularis
externa of the ampulla and form
anastomoses with the superior
and inferior rectal veins.

Superior to the
pectinate line, the
lymphatic vessels drain
deeply into the internal
iliac lymph nodes and
through them into the
common iliac and
lumbar lymph nodes
Inferior to the pectinate
line, the lymphatic
vessels drain
superficially into the
superficial inguinal
lymph nodes,

superior to the pectinate line is

visceral innervation from the
inferior hypogastric plexus,
involving sympathetic,
parasympathetic, and visceral
afferent fibers

inferior to the pectinate line is

somatic innervation derived from the
inferior anal (rectal) nerves, branches
of the pudendal nerve..