Colorectaux

Colorectaux is a term sometimes encountered in medical texts to denote the colon and rectum as a combined unit. In English, the standard term is colorectal (or colorectum), and colorectaux is not widely used in contemporary literature. The colorectaux region extends from the ileocecal valve to the anal canal and includes the colon and rectum, which together perform water absorption, stool formation, and storage prior to defecation.

The colorectaux comprises the colon—ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid—and the rectum. The colon absorbs water and electrolytes and forms feces, while the rectum acts as a temporary reservoir before elimination. The region also hosts gut microbiota that contribute to digestion and immune function.

Common diseases and conditions include colorectal cancer, which is among the most common cancers worldwide and can arise from precancerous polyps. Other conditions include inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), colorectal polyps, diverticular disease, and hemorrhoids. Risk factors for colorectal cancer include age, family history, inflammatory bowel disease, smoking, obesity, and a diet high in red or processed meat and low in fiber. Screening and early detection reduce mortality.

Diagnosis and screening involve colonoscopy with biopsy as the diagnostic standard for many colorectaux diseases. Alternatives include fecal tests (FIT), sigmoidoscopy, and CT colonography. Staging and imaging inform treatment planning.

Treatment and prognosis are disease-specific. Localized colorectal cancer may be treated with surgical resection, often with lymph node removal, sometimes combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Noncancerous conditions are treated medically or surgically as appropriate, and early detection generally improves prognosis.