Pectinate line

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Overview

Template:Infobox Anatomy

The pectinate line (anocutaneous line, dentate line, anal verge, anorectal junction) is a line which marks the end of the rectum and the beginning of the anal canal. Developmentally, this line provides the hindgut and proctodeum junction.

It is an important anatomical landmark, and several distinctions can be made based upon the location of a structure relative to this line:

Distinction	Above pectinate line	Below pectinate line
destination of lymph drainage	internal iliac lymph nodes, inferior mesenteric lymph nodes	superficial inguinal lymph nodes
epithelium	columnar epithelium (as is most of the digestive tract - the line represents the end of the part of the body derived from the hindgut)	stratified squamous epithelium (as is most of the skin.)
blood	superior rectal artery	inferior rectal arteries
hemorrhoids classification	internal hemorrhoids (not painful)	external hemorrhoids (painful)
nerves	inferior hypogastric plexus	inferior rectal nerves