Abstract
This review summarises the anatomy and lymphatic systems around the pelvic floor. We investigated the lymphovascular network in the anorectal region, focusing on the hiatal ligament, which comprises smooth muscle fibres derived from the longitudinal muscle and connecting the anal canal and coccyx, and the endopelvic fascia, which seems to comprise collagen and elastic fibres. During rectal surgery, endopelvic fascia is recognized as a sheet of fascia covering the levator ani muscle. Endopelvic fascia is extensively attached to the smooth muscle fibres diverging from the longitudinal muscle of the rectum. Analysis of the lymphovascular network using submucosal India ink injection and indocyanine green fluorescence imaging suggests a functional lymphatic flow between rectal muscle fibres and hiatal ligament and endopelvic fascia. Precise analysis of the lymphatic systems of fascial organization around the pelvic floor may be useful in formulating therapeutic strategies for low rectal cancer.
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