Superior rectal artery

The inferior mesenteric artery and its branches.

The arteria rectalis superior ("upper rectum artery"), in animals called arteria rectalis cranialis , arises from the arteria mesenterica inferior or "lower intestinal artery ". It divides into two branches that follow the sides of the rectum. The tributaries to the corpus cavernosum recti also originate from the superior rectal artery , which is important for stool continence and the disease of which leads to hemorrhoids .

The other two branches of the inferior visceral artery are the left colic artery and the sigmoid artery .