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rectum
rectum The final part of the intestinal tract, 4–5 inches long, continuing from the colon in the lower left part of the abdomen, and passing down through the pelvic cavity to the anus. It has a large tubular capacity for storing faeces pending voiding, but is flattened and empty between times. Like the rest of the intestines it has a muscular wall and a mucus-secreting lining. Rectal examination can be medically informative: the other organs in the pelvis can be felt through its walls by a gloved finger, allowing recognition, for example, of enlargement of the prostate gland or of the uterus.
Stuart Judge See alimentary system; defecation.alimentary system and urogenital system. |
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COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "rectum." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "rectum." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O128-rectum.html COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "rectum." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O128-rectum.html |
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rectum
rectum (rek-tŭm) n. the terminal part of the large intestine, which runs from the sigmoid colon to the anal canal. Faeces are stored in the rectum before defecation.
—rectal (rek-t'l) adj. |
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"rectum." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rectum." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-rectum.html "rectum." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-rectum.html |
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rectum
rec·tum / ˈrektəm/ • n. (pl. -tums or -ta / -tə/ ) the final section of the large intestine, terminating at the anus. |
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"rectum." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rectum." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-rectum.html "rectum." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-rectum.html |
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rectum
rectum The portion of the alimentary canal between the colon and the anus. Its main function is the storage of faeces prior to elimination.
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"rectum." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rectum." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-rectum.html "rectum." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-rectum.html |
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rectum
rectum In humans and many other vertebrates, last part of the large intestine, where the faeces are stored prior to voiding.
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"rectum." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rectum." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-rectum.html "rectum." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-rectum.html |
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rectum
rectum The part of the alimentary canal that is adjacent to the anus and in which faeces are stored prior to defecation.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "rectum." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "rectum." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-rectum.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "rectum." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-rectum.html |
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rectum
rectum XVI. — L. rēctum, n. of rēctus straight.
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T. F. HOAD. "rectum." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "rectum." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-rectum.html T. F. HOAD. "rectum." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-rectum.html |
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rectum
rectum see intestine . |
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"rectum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rectum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-rectum.html "rectum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-rectum.html |
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rectum
rectum •hansom, ransom, Ransome, transom
•Wrexham • sensum • Epsom • jetsam
•lissom • winsome • gypsum • alyssum
•blossom, opossum, possum
•flotsam • awesome • balsam • Folsom
•noisome • twosome
•fulsome • buxom • Hilversum
•irksome • Gresham • meerschaum
•petersham • nasturtium
•atom, Euratom
•factum
•bantam, phantom
•sanctum
•desideratum, erratum, post-partum, stratum
•substratum • rectum • momentum
•septum
•datum, petrolatum, pomatum, Tatum, ultimatum
•arboretum • dictum • symptom
•ad infinitum
•bottom, rock-bottom
•quantum
•autumn, postmortem
•factotum, Gotham, scrotum, teetotum, totem
•sputum
•accustom, custom
•diatom • anthem • Bentham • Botham
•fathom • rhythm • biorhythm
•algorithm • logarithm • sempervivum
•ovum • William
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"rectum." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rectum." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-rectum.html "rectum." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-rectum.html |
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