Biomaterial Database

Anorectal physiology and testing. 2013

Julie Ann M Van Koughnett, and Giovanna da Silva

Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Boulevard, Weston, FL 33331, USA.

A good understanding of anorectal physiology is essential for the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of various anorectal disorders, such as fecal incontinence, constipation, and pain. This article reviews the physiology of the anorectum and details the various investigations used to diagnose anorectal physiology disorders. These anatomic and functional tests include anal manometry, endoanal ultrasound, defecography, balloon expulsion test, magnetic resonance imaging, pudendal nerve terminal motor latency, electromyography, and colonic transit studies. Indications for investigations, steps in performing the tests, and interpretation of results are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008279	Magnetic Resonance Imaging	Non-invasive method of demonstrating internal anatomy based on the principle that atomic nuclei in a strong magnetic field absorb pulses of radiofrequency energy and emit them as radiowaves which can be reconstructed into computerized images. The concept includes proton spin tomographic techniques.	Chemical Shift Imaging,MR Tomography,MRI Scans,MRI, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Image,Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Functional,Magnetization Transfer Contrast Imaging,NMR Imaging,NMR Tomography,Tomography, NMR,Tomography, Proton Spin,fMRI,Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Imaging, Chemical Shift,Proton Spin Tomography,Spin Echo Imaging,Steady-State Free Precession MRI,Tomography, MR,Zeugmatography,Chemical Shift Imagings,Echo Imaging, Spin,Echo Imagings, Spin,Functional MRI,Functional MRIs,Image, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, NMR,Imaging, Spin Echo,Imagings, Chemical Shift,Imagings, Spin Echo,MRI Scan,MRIs, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Images,Resonance Image, Magnetic,Scan, MRI,Scans, MRI,Shift Imaging, Chemical,Shift Imagings, Chemical,Spin Echo Imagings,Steady State Free Precession MRI
D008365	Manometry	Measurement of the pressure or tension of liquids or gases with a manometer.	Tonometry,Manometries
D009130	Muscle, Smooth	Unstriated and unstriped muscle, one of the muscles of the internal organs, blood vessels, hair follicles, etc. Contractile elements are elongated, usually spindle-shaped cells with centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle fibers are bound together into sheets or bundles by reticular fibers and frequently elastic nets are also abundant. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Muscle, Involuntary,Smooth Muscle,Involuntary Muscle,Involuntary Muscles,Muscles, Involuntary,Muscles, Smooth,Smooth Muscles
D012002	Rectal Diseases	Pathological developments in the RECTUM region of the large intestine (INTESTINE, LARGE).	Anorectal Diseases,Anorectal Disorders,Rectal Disorders,Anorectal Disease,Anorectal Disorder,Rectal Disease,Rectal Disorder
D012007	Rectum	The distal segment of the LARGE INTESTINE, between the SIGMOID COLON and the ANAL CANAL.	Rectums
D004576	Electromyography	Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes.	Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001003	Anal Canal	The terminal segment of the LARGE INTESTINE, beginning from the ampulla of the RECTUM and ending at the anus.	Anal Gland, Human,Anal Sphincter,Anus,Anal Gland,Anal Glands, Human,Detrusor External Sphincter,External Anal Sphincter,Internal Anal Sphincter,Anal Sphincter, External,Anal Sphincter, Internal,Anal Sphincters,Detrusor External Sphincters,External Anal Sphincters,Human Anal Gland,Human Anal Glands,Internal Anal Sphincters,Sphincter, Anal,Sphincter, Detrusor External,Sphincter, External Anal,Sphincter, Internal Anal,Sphincters, Anal
D001004	Anus Diseases	Diseases involving the ANUS.	Anus Disease,Disease, Anus,Diseases, Anus
D051517	Digital Rectal Examination	A physical examination in which the qualified health care worker inserts a lubricated, gloved finger of one hand into the RECTUM and may use the other hand to press on the lower ABDOMEN or pelvic area to palpate for abnormalities in the lower rectum, and nearby organs or tissues. The method is commonly used to check the lower rectum, the PROSTATE gland in men, and the UTERUS and OVARIES in women.	Rectal Palpation,Digital Rectal Examinations,Examination, Digital Rectal,Examinations, Digital Rectal,Palpation, Rectal,Palpations, Rectal,Rectal Examination, Digital,Rectal Examinations, Digital,Rectal Palpations