Clinical Anatomy of Faecal Continence – the Distal GI Tract Flashcards
What is the distal Gi tract classed as?
The rectum
The anal canal
The anus
What does the control of excretion require?
A ‘holding area’ (the rectum) - to store faeces until appropriate defecate
Normal visceral afferent nerve fibres - to sense ‘fullness’ of the rectum
Functioning muscle sphincters - around the distal end of the GI tract to respond to this fullness - - to appropriately contract, preventing defecation, and to relax, allowing defecation
Normal cerebral function to control the appropriate time to defecate
What can affect the control of excretion of faeces?
Neurological pathology - dementia, stroke, MS, trauma
What can faecal continence also be affected by?
affected by medications
affected by the natural age-related degeneration of nerve innervation of muscle
affected by consistency of stool (harder stool, harder to get out)
Where does the pelvic cavity lie?
Lies within the bony pelvis
Lies between the pelvic inlet and pelvic floor
Where is the rectum located?
Within the pelvic cavity
What muscle is known as the pelvic floor?
The levator ani muscle it forms the musculofascial inferior part of the pelvic cavity
What do openings in the pelvic floor permit?
The distal parts of the alimentary, renal and reproductive tracts to pass from the pelvic cavity into the perineum
When does the sigmoid colon become the rectum?
Anterior to S3
What is the junction at which the sigmoid becomes the rectum at S3 called?
The rectosigmoid junction
When does the rectum become the anal canal?
Anterior to the tip of the coccyx just prior to passing through the levator ani muscle
What is the orifice through which faeces pass?
The anus
Where does the rectum ampulla lie in relation to the levator ani?
Immediately superior to the levator ani
What does the walls of the rectum allow?
Allow the walls to relax to accommodate faecal material
How many folds does the rectal ampulla have?
3
What does the peritoneum cover?
The superior rectum
Where do the rectouterine/rectovesical pouch lie in relation to the rectum?
Anterior to the superior rectum
Where does the prostate gland lie in a male?
Anterior to the inferior rectum
Where does the vagina and cervix lie in relation to the rectum in a female?
Anterior to the inferior/middle recutm
What does the levator and muscle form?
Forms most of the pelvic diaphragm - together with fascial coverings
Forms most of the floor of the pelvic
Forms most of the roof of the perineum
Skeletal muscle
What type of muscle is the levator ani muscle?
Skeletal muscle
What 3 muscle make up the levator ani muscle?
iliococcygeus
pubococcygeus
puborectalis
What does the levator ani muscle provide support for?
The pelvic organs - tonically contracted most of the time
When else does the levator ani muscle contract?
Reflexively contracts further during increase in intra-abdominal pressure e.g. coughing, sneezing
What needs to be relaxed in order to allow defecation?
The levator ani muscle