rectumand

Rectumand is not a standard medical term. It does not correspond to a defined anatomical structure or pathology in medical references. It may result from a typo or from a partial phrase such as “rectum and anus.” If you meant information about the rectum or the rectum and anal canal, the following overview covers the rectum, the final segment of the large intestine, and its clinical relevance.

The rectum begins at the rectosigmoid junction near the pelvic brim and ends at the anal canal, about 12 to 15 cm from the anal verge. It lies within the pelvis and is supported by the pelvic floor muscles. The rectal ampulla stores feces before defecation and lacks the taeniae coli that characterize much of the colon.

Anatomy and supply: The rectal wall has mucosa with rectal columns and the small folds called the valves of Houston. Proximally the epithelium is columnar; at the anorectal junction it becomes stratified squamous. Blood supply comes from the superior rectal artery (a branch of the inferior mesenteric) and the middle and inferior rectal arteries (from the internal iliac). Venous drainage follows a mixed portal and systemic pattern. Lymphatics drain to inferior mesenteric and internal iliac nodes. Innervation includes parasympathetic fibers from the pelvic splanchnic nerves, sympathetic fibers from the hypogastric plexus, and somatic innervation via the pudendal nerve to the external anal sphincter.

Clinical relevance: The rectum plays a role in storage and controlled defecation. Common conditions affecting the rectum or anorectal junction include hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, proctitis, and rectal cancer. Diagnosis often involves colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy; imaging and endoscopic ultrasound may be used for staging or assessment. Treatments range from lifestyle and medical management to surgical procedures, depending on the condition.