Corpus: Middle rectal veins

The middle rectal veins are veins located in the region of the rectum.

The middle rectal veins drain blood from the rectal venous plexus, where they form connections with the superior rectal vein and inferior rectal vein. Additionally, they receive blood from smaller veins draining the urinary bladder, prostate, and seminal vesicle.

The middle rectal veins run laterally along the surface of the levator ani muscle and empty into the internal iliac vein. As a result, the blood they carry bypasses the portal vein system and returns to the heart through the systemic venous circulation.