rectum

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. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "rectum." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O128-rectum.html

COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "rectum." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Retrieved February 10, 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. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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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. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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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. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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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. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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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. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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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. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "rectum." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). 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.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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rectum

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"rectum." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Four Pakistanis held in Lanka with heroin in stomach, rectum.
News Wire article from: PTI - The Press Trust of India Ltd.; 5/10/2009
Removing organs through the rectum?
Newspaper article from: Same-Day Surgery; 6/1/2007
Clinical practice and surgery of the colon, rectum and anus.(Brief...
Magazine article from: Reference &amp; Research Book News; 10/1/2011

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