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Anal Physiology

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The ASCRS Textbook of Colon and Rectal Surgery

Abstract

Normal bowel continence is a complex process that involves the coordinated interaction between multiple different neuronal pathways and the pelvic and perineal musculature. The importance of the anatomic relationships of the pelvic floor in maintaining normal continence has been suggested since the 1950s. Yet the complex series of neural and behavioral- mediated interactions, combined with a lack of an ideal study to take all elements into account, makes complete understanding of anorectal anatomy and physiology’s role in preserving continence difficult. Complicating this are multiple other factors that have a role in normal regulation such as systemic disease, emotional effects, bowel motility, stool consistency, evacuation efficiency, pelvic floor stability, and sphincter integrity.

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Authors
  1. Susan M. Parker
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  2. John A. Coller
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Professor of Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Chairman, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic Foundation, Rochester, MN, USA

    Bruce G. Wolff MD, FASCRS (Senior Editors) (Senior Editors)

  2. Professor of Surgery, Chief, Section of Colorectal Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    James W. Fleshman MD, FASCRS (Senior Editors) (Senior Editors)

  3. Chairman, Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA, USA

    David E. Beck MD, FASCRS (Senior Editors) (Senior Editors)

  4. Professor of Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Consultant, Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN, USA

    John H. Pemberton MD, FASCRS (Senior Editors) (Senior Editors)

  5. Chief of Staff, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL, USA

    Steven D. Wexner MD, FASCRS (Senior Editors) (Senior Editors)

  6. Victor W. Fazio Chair of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA

    James M. Church BSc, MBChB, MMed Sci, FASCRS (Associate Editors) (Associate Editors)

  7. Professor of Surgery, Chief, Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Julio Garcia-Aguilar MD, PhD, FASCRS (Associate Editors) (Associate Editors)

  8. Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA, USA

    Patricia L. Roberts MD, FASCRS (Associate Editors) (Associate Editors)

  9. Professor of Surgery, Head, Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Theodore J. Saclarides MD, FASCRS (Associate Editors) (Associate Editors)

  10. Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, USA

    Michael J. Stamos MD, FASCRS (Associate Editors) (Associate Editors)

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© 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Parker, S.M., Coller, J.A. (2007). Anal Physiology. In: Wolff, B.G., et al. The ASCRS Textbook of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-36374-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-36374-5_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-24846-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-36374-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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