Rectum
The human body is an amazing thing. For each one of us, it's the most intimate object we know. And yet most of us don't know enough about it: its features, functions, quirks, and mysteries - Jordan Rosenfeld
image by: Becky Striepe
HWN Suggests
Amazing Butthole Facts
The rectum is the last stop for poop! The butt of many jokes, the rectum plays a serious role when it comes to pooping. This fecal loading dock is lined with nerve endings that, when filled with poop, tell the brain to find a bathroom pronto.
Who knows the difference between poop and a fart? Your rectum, that's who! Let's take a moment to shine some light on this under appreciated organ, who -- along with your brain -- makes important important decisions about what leaves your body every day. Your butt and brain talk to each other. A LOT. When feces move into your rectum, nerve receptors inside the rectum tell the brain if it's gas or poop. If it's gas, your brain gives the OK to…
Articles of Interest
What is the Rectum?
The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in humans and some other mammals. The adult human rectum is about 4.7 inches (12 centimetres) long, and begins at the rectosigmoid junction, which is located at the end of the sigmoid colon.
Behind the Behind: the Anatomy of your Butt
Between your cheeks lies an orifice for the taking. And those lucky enough to understand its anatomy are able to truly open up—pun intended.
How does your rectum tell the difference between wind and stool?
To recap, once your anal canal has sampled the contents of the rectum and compared all the sensory signals, it decides whether there's gas or poop in the rectum. This information makes it to your brain. Then, you can make an informed decision whether to relax your external anal sphincter and release the beast. So, now you know.
Rectum
The rectum is the most distal segment of the large intestine. The word [rectum] arises from the Latin [rectus] and means "straight", such as its use in the name "rectus abdominis" for the "straight muscle of the abdomen". It seems a misnomer, as the rectum of the human species is actually "S" shaped, as seen in the accompanying image. The reason for this discrepancy is that the rectum was named by Galen of Pergamon (129AD - 200 AD) who himself studied this structure in animals such as sheep and goats.
The Rectum and The Anus
From the colon, the stool moves into the rectum. Once or twice a day, stool comes in from the colon, and the rectum stretches to store it. As the amount of stool in the rectum increases, the person feels the urge to go to the bathroom.
What Did We Get Stuck in Our Rectums Last Year?
We Americans as a people are extremely good at shoving things inside ourselves. We are slightly less good at getting them back out without the aid of trained medical personnel.
