rectal venous plexus

A venous plexus on the posterior & lateral walls of the rectum. Empties into: - inferior rectal vein (caval) - middle rectal vein (caval) - superior rectal vein (portal) - thus drains into both the inferior vena cava & portal vein systems Pathology: - varicosities of this venous plexus may result in hemorrhoids

Related

hemorrhoids (piles) inferior rectal vein middle rectal vein superior rectal vein

References

Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999