DISEASES OF THE RECTUM AND ANUS
Categories:
Digestive Organs
The lower part of the alimentary canal
is called the rectum, originally meaning straight. It is not straight in
the human animal. It is six to eight inches long. The anus is the lower
opening of the rectum. In health it is closed by the external Sphincter
(closing muscle). Disease may wear this muscle out and then the anus
remains open, causing the contents of the bowel to move involuntary.