Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Assessment of the Rectum and Anus

Assessment of the Rectum and Anus

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,...

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...

Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy

Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy

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 solid...

Endoscopic Procedures II: Colonoscopy

Endoscopic Procedures II: Colonoscopy

The colon, or large intestine, is the final segment of the digestive system. Its primary functions include absorbing water and vitamins produced by gut bacteria and transforming waste from liquid to solid to form stool. In adults, the large intestine is approximately 5 feet long and consists of four main sections:

Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy

Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy

Sigmoidoscopy and laparoscopy are distinct medical procedures that enable physicians to internally inspect different parts of the GI tract. Although they serve different purposes, each is essential for diagnosing and, in some cases, treating various medical conditions.
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...

Lower GI Series: Barium Enema

Lower GI Series: Barium Enema

A Barium Enema, or a lower GI series, is a specialized radiographic examination designed to visualize the lower gastrointestinal tract, specifically the colon and rectum. This procedure is instrumental in diagnosing various conditions such as colorectal cancer, polyps, diverticulosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Procedure Details
The examination begins by inserting a lubricated rectal tube into the patient's rectum to administer a radiopaque barium solution. The barium flow is carefully...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Reticulosis and steatorrhœa.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2010

Same author

Fenclofenac tolerance in the dyspeptic patient.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2010

Same author

Properties of neodymium laser materials.

Applied optics·2010

Same author

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 involvement in canine tumors.

Veterinary pathology·2003

Same author

Clinical and pathologic relevance of p53 index in canine osseous tumors.

Veterinary pathology·2003

Same author

Haplotype analysis of BRCA2 8765delAG mutation carriers in French Canadian and Yemenite Jewish hereditary breast cancer families.

Human heredity·2001

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Flexible Colonoscopy in Mice to Evaluate the Severity of Colitis and Colorectal Tumors Using a Validated Endoscopic Scoring System

Flexible Colonoscopy in Mice to Evaluate the Severity of Colitis and Colorectal Tumors Using a Validated Endoscopic Scoring System

Published on: October 16, 2013

Colonscopy for investigation of unexplained rectal bleeding

R H Teague, J R Thornton, A P Manning

Lancet (London, England)

|June 24, 1978

Summary

Colonoscopy is valuable for diagnosing rectal bleeding when barium enemas are inconclusive. This examination identified the source of bleeding in 41% of patients, revealing conditions like polyps and cancer.

More Related Videos

Murine Endoscopy for In Vivo Multimodal Imaging of Carcinogenesis and Assessment of Intestinal Wound Healing and Inflammation

Murine Endoscopy for In Vivo Multimodal Imaging of Carcinogenesis and Assessment of Intestinal Wound Healing and Inflammation

Published on: August 26, 2014

Structured Approach to Colonoscopy Technique Optimization: A Single-Center Experience with Novice Endoscopists

Structured Approach to Colonoscopy Technique Optimization: A Single-Center Experience with Novice Endoscopists

Published on: July 11, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Flexible Colonoscopy in Mice to Evaluate the Severity of Colitis and Colorectal Tumors Using a Validated Endoscopic Scoring System

Flexible Colonoscopy in Mice to Evaluate the Severity of Colitis and Colorectal Tumors Using a Validated Endoscopic Scoring System

Published on: October 16, 2013

Murine Endoscopy for In Vivo Multimodal Imaging of Carcinogenesis and Assessment of Intestinal Wound Healing and Inflammation

Murine Endoscopy for In Vivo Multimodal Imaging of Carcinogenesis and Assessment of Intestinal Wound Healing and Inflammation

Published on: August 26, 2014

Structured Approach to Colonoscopy Technique Optimization: A Single-Center Experience with Novice Endoscopists

Structured Approach to Colonoscopy Technique Optimization: A Single-Center Experience with Novice Endoscopists

Published on: July 11, 2025

Area of Science:

Gastroenterology
Colorectal Surgery
Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

Rectal bleeding is a common symptom indicating potential colonic abnormalities.
Barium enema examinations are often insufficient for determining the cause of rectal bleeding.
Colonoscopy offers a direct visualization method for investigating the colon.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy in patients with unexplained rectal bleeding after negative barium enema results.
To determine the prevalence of various colonic conditions identified by colonoscopy in this patient group.

Main Methods:

Performed 215 colonoscopic examinations on patients presenting with rectal bleeding.
Patients had previously undergone barium enema examinations without a definitive diagnosis.

Main Results:

Colonoscopy diagnosed the probable or definite source of bleeding in 41% of cases.
Identified conditions included carcinoma (13%), colonic polyps (14%), and inflammatory bowel disease (7%).
Bleeding sources were more readily found in patients with frank rectal blood loss compared to occult blood.

Conclusions:

Colonoscopy is a crucial tool for investigating rectal bleeding when initial radiological assessments are negative.
The study highlights the significance of rectal bleeding as a marker for colonic pathology.
Colonoscopy demonstrated a high diagnostic value, particularly in patients with multiple negative barium enemas.