Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of low ligation and high ligation of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and lymph nodes dissection on radical resection for rectal cancer.Methods One hundred and fifty-six patients who were diagnosed rectal cancer in our hospital between May 2007 and May 2008 were divided into low ligation group (80 cases)and high ligation group (76 cases).The low ligation group was treated with low ligation of IMA and lymph nodes dissection,the high ligation group was cured by high ligation of IMA and lymph nodes dissection.cases.The IMA lymph nodes metastasis,number of lymph nodes,cancer recurernce rate,5-year survival rate,complication rate were compared and analyzed.Results The rate of lymph nodes metastasis around the origin of inferior mesenteric artery was 15.0％ in the low ligation group,the rate of lymph nodes metastasis around the origin of inferior mesenteric artery was 14.5％ in the high ligation group,and the difference was not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).Compared two groups of postoperative recurrence rate,5-year survival rate,anastomotic leakage rate,sexual dysfunction rate and urinary retention rate,there was no significant differences (P ＞ 0.05).The intestinal function recovery time and low anterior resection syndrome incidence of the low ligation group were lower than the high ligation group,there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Low ligation of inferior mesenteric artery and lymph nodes dissection can achieve radical resection for rectal cancer.Compared with traditional high ligation of inferior mesenteric artery,there were no differences for patients on recurrence rate,5-year survival rate and complication rate.