[Anorectal pain]

The aim of the present study is bring to the colo-proctologists and clinicians the importance of the correct interpretation of ano-rectal pain. Sometimes this pain is so characteristic that it becomes pathognomonic of some diseases. The authors detail the rectal and anal canal innervation and distinguish 2 opposite types of pain in this region: a cutaneous or superficial and a visceral or deep pain. The pain sensation depends of 2 components: perception through physiologic mechanism and reaction through basically psychogenic mechanism. The authors discuss the characteristics of the pain in many anorectal diseases, like inflammatory ones, piles, tumors and very complex neuralgias found in some psychotic patients.