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Anorectal Anatomy

Clinical implications for the MR radiologist

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MRI of Rectal Cancer

Abstract

Detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the rectum and its fascial relationships is one major prerequisite for both accurate diagnostic imaging and successful treatment. The rectum, interposed between the sigmoid colon and the anal canal, has a curved shape in humans and occupies the sacral hollow from the level of the prom­ontory down to the coccyx (Moran and Jackson 1992). The rectum and anal canal are responsible for the storage and controlled evacuation of feces through sophisticated neuromuscular sphincter mechanisms (Salerno et al. 2006).

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Correspondence to Arnd-Oliver Schäfer .

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© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Schäfer, AO. (2009). Anorectal Anatomy. In: MRI of Rectal Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72833-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72833-7_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-72832-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-72833-7

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