Editing Colon and rectum (section)

== '''Lymphatic drainage''' ==

** Generally follows the vascular supply
** Some communications between levels are found, especially at the level of the paracolic groups at the level of the marginal arteries
** There is some dual drainage from the distal transverse and splenic flexure into both superior and inferior mesenteric nodes, although some studies have shown drainage of splenic flexure cancers is mostly to IMA pedicle
** Lymph from upper two thirds of rectum drains upward to the inferior mesenteric and para-aortic nodes
** Lower third of rectum drains both laterally and downward to the internal iliac nodes, and upward to the inferior mesenteric nodes
** Below the dentate line, lymph drains to the inguinal nodes
***