Rectal

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Overview

Rectal
Anatomy of the anus and rectum
The posterior aspect of the rectum exposed by removing the lower part of the sacrum and the coccyx.
Gray's	subject #249 1183
Artery	middle rectal artery, inferior rectal artery
Vein	middle rectal veins, inferior rectal veins
Nerve	inferior anal nerves, inferior mesenteric ganglia[1]
Lymph	internal iliac lymph nodes
Precursor	Hindgut
MeSH	Rectum
Dorlands/Elsevier	r_05/12697487

WikiDoc Resources for Rectal
Articles
Most recent articles on Rectal Most cited articles on Rectal Review articles on Rectal Articles on Rectal in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Rectal Images of Rectal Photos of Rectal Podcasts & MP3s on Rectal Videos on Rectal
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Rectal Bandolier on Rectal TRIP on Rectal
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Rectal at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Rectal Clinical Trials on Rectal at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Rectal NICE Guidance on Rectal NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Rectal CDC on Rectal
Books
Books on Rectal
News
Rectal in the news Be alerted to news on Rectal News trends on Rectal
Commentary
Blogs on Rectal
Definitions
Definitions of Rectal
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Rectal Discussion groups on Rectal Patient Handouts on Rectal Directions to Hospitals Treating Rectal Risk calculators and risk factors for Rectal
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Rectal Causes & Risk Factors for Rectal Diagnostic studies for Rectal Treatment of Rectal
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Rectal
International
Rectal en Espanol Rectal en Francais
Businness
Rectal in the Marketplace Patents on Rectal
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Rectal

The rectum (from the Latin rectum intestinum, meaning straight intestine) is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. The human rectum is about 12 cm long. At its commencement its caliber is similar to that of the sigmoid colon, but near its termination it is dilated, forming the rectal ampulla.

Role in human defecation

The rectum intestinum acts as a temporary storage facility for feces. As the rectal walls expand due to the materials filling it from within, stretch receptors from the nervous system located in the rectal walls stimulate the desire to defecate. If the urge is not acted upon, the material in the rectum is often returned to the colon where more water is absorbed. If defecation is delayed for a prolonged period, constipation and hardened feces results.

When the rectum becomes full the increase in intrarectal pressure forces the walls of the anal canal apart allowing the fecal matter to enter the canal. The rectum shortens as material is forced into the anal canal and peristaltic waves propel the feces out of the rectum. The internal and external sphincter allow the faeces to be passed by muscles pulling the anus up over the exiting feces.

Medical procedures

For the diagnosis of certain ailments, a rectal exam may be done.

Suppositories may be inserted into the rectum as a route of administration for medicine.

The endoscopic procedures colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy are performed to diagnose diseases such as cancer.

Temperature taking

Body temperature can also be taken in the rectum. Rectal temperature can be taken by inserting a mercury thermometer for 3 to 5 minutes, or a digital thermometer until it "beeps", not more than 25 mm (1 inch) into the rectum via the anus. Due to recent concerns related to mercury poisoning, the use of mercury thermometers is now discouraged. Normal rectal temperature generally ranges from 36 to 38 °C (97.6 to 100.4 °F) and is about 0.5 °C (1 °F) above oral (mouth) temperature and about 1 °C (2 °F) above axillary (armpit) temperature.

Many pediatricians recommend that parents take infants and toddler's temperature in the rectum for two reasons:

• (1) Rectal temperature is the closest to core body temperature and in children that young, accuracy is critical.
• (2) Younger children are unable to cooperate when having their temperature taken by mouth (oral) which is recommended for children, ages 6 and above and for adults.

In recent years, the introduction of ear (tympanic) thermometers and changing attitudes on privacy and modesty have led some parents and doctors to discontinue taking rectal temperatures.

Sexual stimulation

Due to the proximity of the anterior wall of the rectum to the vagina in females or to the prostate in males and the shared nerves thereof, rectal stimulation or penetration can result in sexual arousal. For further information on this aspect, see anal sex.

Additional images

Organs of the female reproductive system.	Median sagittal section of pelvis, showing arrangement of fasciæ.	The arteries of the pelvis.	Section of mucous membrane of human rectum. X 60.
The blood vessels of the rectum and anus.	Median sagittal section of male pelvis.	Median sagittal section of female pelvis.	Sagittal section of the lower part of a female trunk, right segment.
The rectum can be seen the left of this illustration.	Cross section microscopic shot of the rectal wall.

See also

• Gastrointestinal tract
• Rectal prolapse
• Latus rectum (conic section)
• Semi-latus rectum (conic section)
• pectinate line

References

External links

• Cross section at UV pembody/body15a
• Cross section at UV pelvis/pelvis-e12-15
• SUNY Anatomy Image 7808
• SUNY Labs 43:11-0101 - "The Female Pelvis: The Rectum"
• KMLE Medical Dictionary definition of rectum retrieved from KMLE Medical Dictionary on 2007-03-25

v • d • e WikiDoc Research Resources for Rectal (Click show to right to view)
Articles on Rectal	Most recent articles on Rectal • Most cited articles on Rectal • Review articles on Rectal • Articles on Rectal in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media (Slides, Video, Images, MP3) on Rectal	Powerpoint slides on Rectal • Images of Rectal • Photos of Rectal • Podcasts & MP3s on Rectal • Videos on Rectal
Evidence Based Medicine Regarding Rectal	Cochrane Collaboration on Rectal • Bandolier on Rectal • TRIP on Rectal
Cost Effectiveness of Rectal	Cost Effectiveness of Rectal
Clinical Trials Involving Rectal	Ongoing Trials on Rectal at Clinical Trials.gov • Trial results on Rectal • Clinical Trials on Rectal at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Government Resources (FDA/CDC) Regarding Rectal	US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Rectal • NICE Guidance on Rectal • NHS PRODIGY Guidance • FDA on Rectal • CDC on Rectal
Textbook Information on Rectal	Books and Textbook Information on Rectal
Pharmacology Resources on Rectal	Dosing of Rectal • Drug interactions with Rectal • Side effects of Rectal • Allergic reactions to Rectal • Overdose information on Rectal • Carcinogenicity information on Rectal • Rectal in pregnancy • Pharmacokinetics of Rectal •
Genetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Proteinomics of Rectal	Genetics of Rectal • Pharmacogenomics of Rectal • Proteomics of Rectal
Newstories on Rectal	Rectal in the news • Be alerted to news on Rectal • News trends on Rectal
Commentary on Rectal	Blogs on Rectal
Patient Resources on Rectal	Patient resources on Rectal • Discussion groups on Rectal • Patient Handouts on Rectal • Directions to Hospitals Treating Rectal • Risk calculators and risk factors for Rectal
Healthcare Provider Resources on Rectal	Symptoms of Rectal • Causes & Risk Factors for Rectal • Diagnostic studies for Rectal • Treatment of Rectal
Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programs on Rectal	CME Programs on Rectal
International Resources on Rectal	Rectal en Espanol • Rectal en Francais
Business Resources on Rectal	Rectal in the Marketplace • Patents on Rectal
Informatics Resources on Rectal	List of terms related to Rectal

v • d • e Anatomy of torso, digestive system: Gastrointestinal tract
Upper GI: to stomach	Mouth • Pharynx (nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx) • Esophagus • Crop
Upper GI: stomach	rugae - gastric pits - cardia/gland - fundus/gland - pylorus/gland - pyloric antrum - pyloric canal - greater curvature - lesser curvature - angular incisure
Lower GI: intestines	Small intestine: Duodenum (Suspensory muscle, Major duodenal papilla, Minor duodenal papilla) • Duodenojejunal flexure • Jejunum • Ileum • continuous (intestinal villus, crypts of Lieberkühn, circular folds) Junction: Vermiform appendix • Ileocecal valve Large intestine: Cecum • Colon (ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon) • continuous (taenia coli, haustra, epiploic appendix)
Lower GI: termination	Rectum: Houston valve • rectal ampulla • pectinate line Anal canal: anal valves • anal sinuses • anal columns • Hilton's white line Anus: Sphincter ani internus muscle • Sphincter ani externus muscle
Lower GI: lymph	GALT: Peyer's patches (M cells)

v • d • e Human anatomical features
Head	Skull · Forehead · Eye · Ear · Nose · Mouth · Tongue · Teeth · Jaw · Face · Cheek · Chin
Neck	Throat · Adam's apple
Torso	Shoulders · Spine · Breast · Chest · Ribcage · Abdomen · Navel Sex organs (Clitoris · Vagina · Penis · Scrotum · Testicle) – Hip · Anus · Buttocks
Limbs	Arm · Elbow · Forearm · Wrist · Hand · Finger (Thumb · Index · Middle · Ring · Little) · Leg · Lap · Thigh · Knee · Calf · Heel · Ankle · Foot · Toe (Hallux)
Skin	Hair

ar:مستقيم

cs:Konečník da:Endetarm de:Mastdarm dv:ފުރަގަސް ފަރާތްeo:Rektumo fr:Rectum io:Rektumo id:Rektum is:Endaþarmur it:Retto he:חלחולת la:Rectum lt:Tiesioji žarna nl:Endeldarm ja:直腸 no:Endetarmensimple:Rectum sk:Konečník fi:Peräsuoli sv:Ändtarm tl:Tumbong te:పురీషనాళము

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Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content

Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .