Abstract
There are several reasons for concerning oneself with the accurate measurement of physiological responses in the anal canal and rectum. The anorectal area provides a critical interface between the external, social, and physical environment and the internal, biological environment. Society places considerable importance on the self-control of defecation, and the assessment and treatment of incontinence is therefore important. In addition, this part of the gastrointestinal tract is well supplied with visceral afferent nerves which give rise to subjective and reflex control: This provides a unique opportunity to study the mechanism by which self-regulation of a visceral response is achieved. This chapter will summarize what is known of the anatomy and physiology of the anorectal area and will describe the advantages and disadvantages of various measurement techniques.
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© 1983 Plenum Press, New York
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Whitehead, W.E., Schuster, M.M. (1983). Manometric and Electromyographic Techniques for Assessment of the Anorectal Mechanism for Continence and Defecation. In: Hölzl, R., Whitehead, W.E. (eds) Psychophysiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3530-6_16
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3530-6_16
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3532-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3530-6
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