The arterial blood supply of the anal canal derives from the superior, middle and inferior rectal arteries, whose branches reach the anal submucosa. Three main arterial trunks in the right anterior, right posterior and left lateral positions can be isolated below the pectinate line. They come, for the most important part, from the superior rectal artery. On the course of the anal submucosal venous plexus are fusiform, saccular or serpiginous dilatations confined to the lower half of the anal canal. This plexus is mainly tributary of the superior rectal vein to the portal system and secondly, of the middle and inferior rectal veins and the lateral sacral veins to the inferior vena cava. Arterio-venous direct communications have been demonstrated by serial section and by radiography of cadaveric specimens and by selective inferior mesenteric arteriography in patients. The erectile property of the anal submucosa as suggested by large vascular spaces, arterio-venous shunts and glomic systems may function in the erectile mechanism.

Anal Canal↗

PubMed1975

[Radio-anatomical study of the arteries of the foot].

30 Cadaveric feet were injected with minium by 3 catheters, one in each foot artery. The A. tibialis posterior is the most voluminous. It branches off in A. plantaris lateralis, main artery of the sole of the foot and A. plantaris medialis, small artery terminating on the medial edge of the big toe (in fact, in most cases (60%), it divides into 3 branches). The third branch has a double destiny, it vascularizes the shell of the calcaneus and it anastomoses with the posterior fibular artery. The A. dorsalis pedis, in 80% of the cases rejoins the lateral plantar artery in the first space. Among the 5 classical branches, the lateral tarsal artery and the dorsal metatarsal artery are constant. The other branches are more uncommun. But some anastomoses are frequent: - with the posterior fibular artery, (20%); - with the anterior fibular artery (10%). The A. fibularis is divided over the talo-tibial joint. Only the posterior branch is always injected. It gives three anastomoses: - The supra-malleolar artery with the posterior tibial artery, of great value because it is able to inject all the foot arteries. - The two others are narrower, the supracalcanean artery with the posterior tibial artery, and the medial supratarsal artery with the lateral tarsal artery. It ends in the sole of the foot after having given the vascularisation of the external face of the calcaneus. It is possible to oppose: The parts with a good vascularisation: - sole of the foot, - internal face of the calcaneus, - external face of the big toe, - internal face of the last 4 toes; The parts with a poor vascularisation: - dorsal face of the foot, - external face of the calcaneus, - internal face of the big toe, - external face of the last 4 toes.

Aged↗

PubMed1975