Organ: Rectum

Rectum: The end of the digestive tract after the colon and before the anus
Rectum: The last part of the large intestine (colon) ending in the anus. ¹
Introduction: The rectum contains feces that has been forwarded from the large intestine. Once the rectum fills enough, the process of defecation is used to expel feces out of the anus opening.

Introduction: As food moves through it, the colon absorbs water while forming waste products, or stool. Muscle contractions in the colon push the stool toward the rectum. By the time stool reaches the rectum, it is solid because most of the water has been absorbed. ²

Condition count: 21 ; see list below.
Organ types: Digestive system (127)
Related organs: large intestine (19), bowel (19), colon (16), anus (16), defecation (0), feces (0)
Main condition: Rectal conditions
Organs: all organs

Diseases list: The following list of medical conditions have 'Rectum' or similar listed as an affected body part in our database: