A rectum is the last part of large intestine before the anal canal. Inside your abdomen, your surgeon will separate the large intestine above your rectum from the tissue covering it. The rectum has to be removed so that a total mesorectal excision (TME) can be done to remove all of the lymph nodes near the rectum. www.cims.org Medical Animation Copyright© 2015 Nucleus Medical Media, All rights reserved https://www.nucleusmedicalmedia.com/nmm1_7