Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Anatomy and Histology of the Anus

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Anal Cancer

Abstract

A thorough understanding of anal cancer necessitates a nuanced comprehension of the anatomy involved. The anal canal and sphincter complex are often oversimplified, but the alternative perspectives on this anatomic region and its histologic characteristics influence how anal cancer pathology is conceptualized and ultimately treated. In this chapter, we highlight the divergent definitions and complexity of anal canal anatomy, review the anatomic and functional configuration of the pelvic floor and anal sphincter musculature, delineate histologic characteristics of the anal canal and perianal skin, and describe the distinct vascular and lymphatic drainage patterns of the anal canal and perianal skin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

RAIR:

Rectoanal inhibitory reflex

S2–S4:

Sacral nerves S2–S4

References

  1. Nivatvongs S, Stern HS, Fryd DS. The length of the anal canal. Dis Colon Rectum. 1981;24(8):600–1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Strohbehn K, Elus JH, Strohbehn JA, DeLancey JO. Magnetic resonance imaging of the levator ani with anatomic correlation. Obstet Gynecol. 1996;87(2):277–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Lawson JO. Pelvic anatomy. I. Pelvic floor muscles. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1974;54(5):244.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Lunniss PJ, Phillips RK. Anatomy and function of the anal longitudinal muscle. Br J Surg. 1992;79(9):882–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Uz A, Elhan A, Ersoy M, Tekdemir I. Internal anal sphincter: an anatomic study. Clinical Anat. 2004;17(1):17–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Oh C, Kark AE. Anatomy of the external anal sphincter. Br J Surg. 1972;59(9):717–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wu Y, Dabhoiwala NF, Hagoort J, Shan JL, Tan LW, Fang BJ, et al. 3D topography of the young adult anal sphincter complex reconstructed from undeformed serial anatomical sections. PLoS One. 2015;10(8):e0132226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kinugasa Y, Arakawa T, Murakami G, Fujimiya M, Sugihara K. Nerve supply to the internal anal sphincter differs from that to the distal rectum: an immunohistochemical study of cadavers. Int J Color Dis. 2014;29(4):429–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lee JF, Maurer VM, Block GE. Anatomic relations of pelvic autonomic nerves to pelvic operations. Arch Surg. 1973;107(2):324–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lawson JO. Pelvic anatomy. II. Anal canal and associated sphincters. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1974;54(6):288.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Shafik A, El-Sherif M, Youssef A, Olfat ES. Surgical anatomy of the pudendal nerve and its clinical implications. Clinical Anat. 1995;8(2):110–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ryan DP, Compton CC, Mayer RJ. Carcinoma of the anal canal. N Engl J Med. 2000;342:792–800.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Seow-Choen F, Ho JM. Histoanatomy of anal glands. Dis Colon Rectum. 1994;37:1215–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Jemal A, Siegel R, Xu J, Ward E. Cancer statistics, 2010. CA Cancer J Clin. 2010;60:277–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Blair JB, Holyoke EA, Best RR. A note on the lymphatics of the middle and lower rectum and anus. Anat Rec. 1950;108(4):635–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Margaret H. Sundel, Ira L. Leeds & Sandy Hwang Fang

  2. Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Lysandra Voltaggio

Authors
  1. Margaret H. Sundel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lysandra Voltaggio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ira L. Leeds
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sandy Hwang Fang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sandy Hwang Fang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Jeffrey Meyer

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA

    Lisa Kachnic

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Sundel, M.H., Voltaggio, L., Leeds, I.L., Fang, S.H. (2019). Anatomy and Histology of the Anus. In: Meyer, J., Kachnic, L. (eds) Anal Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20253-8_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20253-8_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-20252-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-20253-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation