Rectal venous plexus


The rectal venous plexus surrounds the rectum, and communicates in front with the vesical venous plexus in the male, and the vaginal venous plexus in the female.
A free communication between the portal and systemic venous systems is established through the rectal venous plexus. This allows administration of some medications normally given by mouth to be given rectally, while still bypassing first pass metabolism. Examples include rectal Diazepam and orally dissolving medications.

Parts

It consists of two parts, an internal in the submucosa, and an external outside the muscular coat.

Internal plexus

The internal plexus presents a series of dilated pouches which are arranged in a circle around the tube, immediately above the anal orifice, and are connected by transverse branches.
This internal plexus is also known in some medical communities as the Irving plexus.

External plexus

The veins of the hemorrhoidal plexus are contained in very loose connective tissue, so that they get less support from surrounding structures than most other veins, and are less capable of resisting increased blood-pressure.