The discovery and a study of the adventitia rectalis, a fibrous layer of the rectal wall

In sacral anoplasty, it is frequently found that an outer layer of the rectal wall, which resembles the structure of the taenia bands of the colon, limits the elasticity of the rectum making it different from the small intestine, hence preventing the rectal stump from being advanced to reach the perineum. Results of autopsy studies on 40 human babies and 40 dogs showed that a special collagenous fibrous layer called adventitia rectalis was found to limit the free expansion of the rectal wall. This was responsible for keeping the rectum a straight tubular shape with a fixed volume. This tissue plays an important role in bowel movement by defining a threshold of intrarectal pressure in the bowel reflex of defecation and by transmitting the expulsive force from the abdomen above down to the anal opening. This discovery may explain why (1) in Hirschsprung's disease, the preservation of the rectal wall in Soave's or Rehbein's procedure or partial preservation in Duhamel's operation will preserve better bowel function; (2) in atresia ani, rectal tapering results in better bowel control than rectal pouch amputation; and (3) in sacral anoplasty, multiple releasing incisions of adventitia rectalis at different levels will lengthen the rectal stump to about double its original length to reach the perineal incision, and the divided fibers will soon regenerate.