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Anorectal Anatomy and Physiology

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Childbirth Trauma

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Abstract

The anorectal canal has the important function of regulating defecation and the role of controlling fecal continence. To fulfill its function, it is necessary to integrate muscular and sensory components. Continence in normal conditions is maintained by the acute angle that the contraction of the pubo-rectal muscle creates at the recto-anal junction, the rectal compliance, and the area of high pressure 2 cm from the anal verge. The resting pressure of the channel is attributed by 80 % to the tonic contraction of the internal anal sphincter, and the remaining 20 % is due to the action of the external anal sphincter and a small part of the hemorrhoidal cushions. During the filling of bulb, the distension of the rectum evokes the reflex inhibition of anal canal, with relaxation of the internal sphincter and contraction of the external sphincter. During defecation the external anal sphincter is voluntarily inhibited, the pubo-rectal muscle is relaxed with the aid of the abdominal muscles, and the fecal material is pushed out of the intestine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colorectal and Pelvic Surgery Unit, Emergency Department and Surgical Sciences Department, Policlinico Umberto 1°, “Sapienza” Rome University Hospital, Rome, Italy

    Filippo La Torre MD

  2. Department of Surgery, Policlinico Umberto I, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Diego Coletta MD, Fabiano Iaquinandi & Francesco Velluti MD

  3. Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Policlinico Umberto I, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Federica Costanzo MD

Authors
  1. Filippo La Torre MD
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  2. Diego Coletta MD
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  3. Federica Costanzo MD
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  4. Fabiano Iaquinandi
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  5. Francesco Velluti MD
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Correspondence to Filippo La Torre MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom

    Stergios K Doumouchtsis

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La Torre, F., Coletta, D., Costanzo, F., Iaquinandi, F., Velluti, F. (2017). Anorectal Anatomy and Physiology. In: Doumouchtsis, S. (eds) Childbirth Trauma. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6711-2_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6711-2_2

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