Lateral ligament of the rectum-anatomical or surgical terminology / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the clinical topography of lateral ligament of the rectum in the relation to surgical procedures in rectal carcinoma. Method Twenty-three pelvises(12 males,11 females)harvested from embalmed cadavers were studied by topographic dissection. Results The lateral rectal ligamem were identiffed bilaterally in all cadavers between the rectum and visceral fascia.Unilateral middle rectal arteries was found in 8 cadavers and bilateral arteries was found in 2 cadavers.The rectal branches from the pelvic plexus were uniformly constant structure within lateral ligament of the rectum.Conclusion The lateral rectal ligament is located between rectum and visceral fascia.The cleavage between visceral fascia and pelvic plexus is the appropriate plane for lateral rectal dissection of rectal cancers.