Abstract
Pelvic floor anatomy and physiology are two of the most complex chapters of the study of the human body; each factor contributing to defecation and anal continence could be comparable to a tile of a puzzle in which the integrity and the perfect interaction of the pieces guarantees the final result. Pelvic floor muscles, anorectum, somatic, autonomic, and enteric innervation, in fact, act together in a “ranking order” essential for the correct function of the pelvic organs.
The muscular part of the pelvic floor is represented by the levator ani muscle, and one of its components, the puborectalis muscle, contributes to the anorectal angle and, together with the internal and the external anal sphincter, is responsible for the anal resting tone. Lastly, a fine and perfect interaction among peripheral reflex (rectoanal inhibitory reflex), somatic, autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic), and enteric innervation, and some physical features (rectal compliance, stool consistency) are crucial for the modulation of sensitive and motor anorectal functions ensuring correct continence and defecation.
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Giuratrabocchetta, S., Giannini, I. (2017). Factors Affecting Defecation and Anal Continence. In: Ratto, C., Parello, A., Donisi, L., Litta, F. (eds) Colon, Rectum and Anus: Anatomic, Physiologic and Diagnostic Bases for Disease Management. Coloproctology, vol 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09807-4_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09807-4_10
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