Abstract
The main functions of the colon and rectum are transport and storage of feces, absorption of water and electrolytes, and absorption of short-chain fatty acids. The colon and rectum have specific contraction patterns that are mainly controlled by the enteric nervous system. Furthermore, colorectal contractions are modulated by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, several hormones, and the immune system. The physiology of the colon and rectum undergoes diurnal and postprandial changes.
Anal continence depends on complicated interactions between the internal and external anal sphincters, the puborectalis muscle, rectal compliance, anorectal sensibility, anorectal reflexes, and colorectal motility.
Defecation is usually initiated by colonic mass movements. Stretching of the rectal wall stimulates rectal contractions through the defecation reflex and relaxation of the internal anal sphincters through the rectoanal inhibitory reflex. Defecation is facilitated by relaxation of the puborectalis muscle and enforced by a Valsalva maneuver.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsSuggested Reading
Bouchoucha M, Devroede G, Arhan P, Strom B, Weber J, Cugnenc P, Denis P, Barbier J. What is the meaning of colorectal transit time measurement? Dis Colon Rectum. 1992;35:773–82.
Brock C, Nissen TD, Gravesen FH, Frøkjaer JB, Omar H, Gale J, Gregersen H, Svendsen O, Drewes AM. Multimodal sensory testing of the rectum and rectosigmoid: development and reproducibility of a new method. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2008;20:908–18.
Dinning PG, Wiklendt L, Maslen L, Patton V, Lewis H, Arkwright JW, Wattchow DA, Lubowski DZ, Costa M, Bampton PA. Colonic motor abnormalities in slow transit constipation defined by high resolution, fibre optic manometry. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015;27:379–88.
Farmer A, Scott S, Hobson AR. Gastrointestinal motility revisited: the wireless motility capsule. UEG J. 2013;1:413–21.
Haase AM, Gregersen T, Schlageter V, Scott MS, Demierre M, Kuchera P, Dahlerup JF, Krogh K. Pilot study trialling a new ambulatory method for the clinical assessment of regional gastrointestinal transit times using multiple electromagnetic capsules. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;26:1783–91.
Haas S, Brock C, Krogh K, Gram M, Nissen TD, Lundby L, Laurberg S, Drewes AM. Cortical evoked potentials in response to rapid balloon distension of the rectum and anal canal. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;26:862–73.
Krogh K, Ryhammer AM, Lundby L, Gregersen H, Laurberg S. Comparison of methods used for measurement of rectal compliance. Dis Colon Rectum. 2001;44:199–206.
Lestar B, Pennickx F, Kerremans R. The composition of anal basal pressure. Int J Colorectal Dis. 1989;4:118–22.
Sorensen G, Liao D, Lundby L, Fynne L, Buntzen S, Gregersen H, Laurberg S, Krogh K. Distensibility of the anal canal in patients with idiopathic fecal incontinence: a study with the functional lumen imaging probe. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;26:255–63.
Whitehead WE, Delvaux M, the Working Team. Standardization of barostat procedures for testing smooth muscle tone and sensory thresholds in the gastrointestinal tract. Dig Dis Sci. 1997;2:223–4.
Wood JD, Alpers DH, Andrews PLR. Fundamentals of neurogastroenterology. Gut. 1999;45(suppl II):II6–16.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Krogh, K., Laurberg, S. (2017). Physiology of Colon, Rectum, and Anus. In: Herold, A., Lehur, PA., Matzel, K., O'Connell, P. (eds) Coloproctology. European Manual of Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53210-2_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53210-2_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-53208-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-53210-2
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)