Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Assessment of the Rectum and Anus01:25

Assessment of the Rectum and Anus

478
Evaluating the rectum and anus plays a crucial role in conducting a thorough physical examination of the gastrointestinal system. Although it may be uncomfortable and often embarrassing for the patient, it holds immense diagnostic value, particularly in detecting gastrointestinal diseases and abnormalities. This guide will explain how to perform this assessment using inspection and palpation methods.
Rectal Inspection
Begin by inspecting the perianal and anal areas for color, texture, rashes,...
478
The Micturition Reflex01:26

The Micturition Reflex

1.2K
Urination, or micturition involves the coordination of the bladder's detrusor muscle and two sphincters to ensure controlled bladder emptying.
The process begins with bladder filling, where the bladder wall stretches as urine accumulates. This stretching activates the urine storage reflex, mediated by the sacral spinal segments and the pontine storage center. Efferent sympathetic impulses stimulate the detrusor muscle to relax and the internal urethral sphincter to contract, facilitating...
1.2K
Feces Formation and Defecation01:26

Feces Formation and Defecation

1.8K
After spending 3 to 10 hours in the large intestine, chyme loses a lot of water and becomes feces, the final product of digestion. Feces consist of undigested dietary fiber such as cellulose, mucus, sloughed-off epithelial cells, and microbes. The descending and sigmoid colon stores feces and uses haustral contractions to dry it out but retains enough water to give it a semi-solid texture.
The mass peristalsis then pushes the feces into the rectum, which stretches the rectal walls to activate...
1.8K
Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management01:21

Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management

243
Surgical interventions for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are essential in managing symptoms and addressing complications. The selection of surgical procedures is contingent upon the specific conditions and complications that stem from these illnesses.
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
243
Reflex Activity01:08

Reflex Activity

2.1K
A reflex activity is an automatic, involuntary response to specific stimuli. It is a part of our survival mechanism, designed to protect us from potential harm. For example, when a bright light suddenly shines into our eyes, we instinctively close them or look away. This is a simple reflex activity orchestrated by the nervous system without conscious thought or effort.
A reflex exam is a diagnostic procedure performed by a healthcare professional to evaluate the functionality of a patient's...
2.1K
Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy01:26

Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy

163
This lesson explores three gastrointestinal imaging techniques: radionuclide testing, colonic transit studies, and virtual colonoscopy.
Radionuclide Testing
Radionuclide testing is a sophisticated medical technique for assessing gastrointestinal motility. It focuses on gastric emptying and colonic transit time. Radioactive markers track the movement of food through the digestive system, providing insights into gastrointestinal disorders.
In gastric emptying studies, a meal's liquid and...
163

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Delirium: a modifiable risk factor for dementia.

European geriatric medicine·2025
Same author

Normal Anal Sensibility in Patients Born With Anorectal Malformations.

Neurogastroenterology and motility·2024
Same author

The contribution of descending intramural nerves to regulation of anal sensibility: new insights for anorectal surgery.

The British journal of surgery·2024
Same author

The Effect of a Temporary Stoma on Long-term Functional Outcomes Following Surgery for Rectal Cancer.

Diseases of the colon and rectum·2023
Same author

Surviving rectal cancer at the cost of a colostomy: global survey of long-term health-related quality of life in 10 countries.

BJS open·2022
Same author

Development and validation of the Early Pediatric Groningen Defecation and Fecal Continence questionnaire.

European journal of pediatrics·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Quantification of Levator Ani Hiatus Enlargement by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Males and Females with Pelvic Organ Prolapse
07:41

Quantification of Levator Ani Hiatus Enlargement by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Males and Females with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Published on: April 17, 2019

10.0K

The anorectal defaecation reflex: a prospective intervention study.

Sanne J Verkuijl1,2, Monika Trzpis1, Paul M A Broens1,2

  • 1Department of Surgery, Anorectal Physiology Laboratory, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Colorectal Disease : the Official Journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland
|February 23, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A newly identified anorectal defecation reflex, involving rectal contraction, aids in bowel movements. This reflex, mediated by nerves in the anal canal, is crucial for defecation and may impact constipation diagnostics and treatment.

Keywords:
anal canalconstipationdefecationphysiologyrectum

More Related Videos

Development of an Algorithm to Perform a Comprehensive Study of Autonomic Dysreflexia in Animals with High Spinal Cord Injury Using a Telemetry Device
06:51

Development of an Algorithm to Perform a Comprehensive Study of Autonomic Dysreflexia in Animals with High Spinal Cord Injury Using a Telemetry Device

Published on: July 29, 2016

8.0K
Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex
06:04

Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex

Published on: July 4, 2018

9.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Quantification of Levator Ani Hiatus Enlargement by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Males and Females with Pelvic Organ Prolapse
07:41

Quantification of Levator Ani Hiatus Enlargement by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Males and Females with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Published on: April 17, 2019

10.0K
Development of an Algorithm to Perform a Comprehensive Study of Autonomic Dysreflexia in Animals with High Spinal Cord Injury Using a Telemetry Device
06:51

Development of an Algorithm to Perform a Comprehensive Study of Autonomic Dysreflexia in Animals with High Spinal Cord Injury Using a Telemetry Device

Published on: July 29, 2016

8.0K
Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex
06:04

Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex

Published on: July 4, 2018

9.0K

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Neurogastroenterology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Defecation involves complex coordinated actions of the rectum and anal canal.
  • The precise neural mechanisms initiating rectal contraction during defecation are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the existence of a neural pathway from the anal canal to the rectum that facilitates rectal contraction during defecation.
  • To compare rectal motility in healthy individuals with and without anal anesthesia.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective intervention study with two sessions: baseline and post-intervention.
  • Anal electrosensitivity test, rectoanal inhibitory reflex test, and barostat distensions were performed.
  • Participants received either local anal anesthesia or a placebo before the second session.

Main Results:

  • All participants exhibited a transient rectal contraction during baseline testing.
  • Rectal contraction significantly decreased after anal anesthesia (18.6 ml vs. 4.9 ml, p=0.019).
  • Anal canal electrosensitivity correlated with the magnitude of rectal contraction (r=-0.452, p=0.045).

Conclusions:

  • Healthy individuals possess an involuntary rectal reflex contraction, termed the anorectal defecation reflex.
  • This reflex appears to be innervated by afferent nerves in the proximal anal canal.
  • Understanding this reflex may improve diagnostics and treatment strategies for constipation.