Faecal Continence: the distal part of the GI tract Flashcards
What can affect faecal continence
Medication
Natural degeneration of nerve innervation of muscle
consistency of stool (diarrhoea and constipation)
What is required to control the excretion of faeces
Holding area
Normal visceral afferent nerve fibres
Functioning muscle sphincters
Normal cerebral function
What do the rectum/ anal canal pass through
The pelvic floor
Where is the rectum located
The pelvic cavity
Where is the perineum
Inferior to the pelvic floor
What is the pelvic inlet
THe way into the pelvic cavity from the abdominal cavity
What are most of the pelvic floor muscles made up of
Levator ani
How many muscles make up the pelvic floor
3
What do the opening in the pelvic floor permit?
The distal parts of GI, Reproductive and renal tracts to pass through from the pelvic cavity into the perineum
What are the 4 parts of the distal part of the GI tract
Anus, anal canal, rectum and sigmoid colon
Where does the sigmoid colon become the rectum
anterior to S3 - the rectosigmoid junction
Where does the rectum become the anal canal
ANterior to the tip of the coccyx just prior to passing through the levator ani muscle
Where is the rectum?
In the pelvis
Where are the anal canal and the anus located
perineum
Where is the area of the rectum which dilates most?
Rectal ampulla
