Total mesorectal excision (TME) rectal - image description

The illustration shows the large bowel within a body, including the colon and rectum. Covering the large bowel is the mesorectum, which is a sheet of fatty tissue. Within the mesorectum the illustration shows blood vessels, lymph nodes and vessels. A dotted line is drawn to show an example of the area that is removed during a total mesorectal excision (a TME) operation. This area includes the rectum and the lower end of the colon, as well as some of the mesorectum.