Corpus: Middle rectal artery

The middle rectal artery is a branch of the internal iliac artery that supplies the middle section of the rectum with arterial blood.

The middle rectal artery originates from the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery, typically alongside the inferior vesical artery. Its branches distribute blood to the wall of the middle rectum and form anastomoses with both the superior rectal artery and the inferior rectal artery. Additionally, it anastomoses with the inferior vesical artery.

In men, the middle rectal artery provides branches to the prostate and seminal vesicles. In women, it supplies branches to the vagina.

A vegetative nerve plexus, known as the median rectal plexus, runs along the course of the middle rectal artery.