[Vascularization of the sub-mucosal and mucosal layers of the colon in man]

The vascularization of the submucosal and mucosal layers of the human colon has been studied in 25 cases whose vascular system was injected with gelatinous indian ink. The submucosal layer presents a true vascular crossroads for the arterial and venous anastomotic networks, which are tributaries of the straight vessels. The morphology of these vascular networks is exactly similar. The straight arteries and veins form vascular rings all along the colon, and they anastomose by means of longitudinal and transverse vessels. Many vessels of the muscular and all those of the mucosal layer are tributaries of these vascular networks. The vessels of the mucosal layer include the precapillary arteries, capillary network of the intestinal glands and postcapillary veins. The latter joint and form the mucosal venous trunks, which, in turn, form the mucosal veins, which flow into the submucosal venous network.