Rectum
You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Overview
| Rectum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 Rectum | |
|
Articles | |
|---|---|
|
Media | |
|
Evidence Based Medicine | |
|
Clinical Trials | |
|
Ongoing Trials on Rectum at Clinical Trials.gov Clinical Trials on Rectum at Google
| |
|
Guidelines / Policies / Govt | |
|
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Rectum
| |
|
Books | |
|
News | |
|
Commentary | |
|
Definitions | |
|
Patient Resources / Community | |
|
Directions to Hospitals Treating Rectum Risk calculators and risk factors for Rectum
| |
|
Healthcare Provider Resources | |
|
Continuing Medical Education (CME) | |
|
International | |
|
| |
|
Businness | |
|
Experimental / Informatics | |
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 faeces.
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
- 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
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 | |
cs:Konečník da:Endetarm de:Mastdarmeo:Rektumo fr:Rectum io:Rektumo id:Rektum it:Retto he:חלחולת lt:Tiesioji žarna nl:Endeldarm ja:直腸 no:Endetarmensimple:Rectum sk:Konečník fi:Peräsuoli sv:Ändtarm
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 .
