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The internal anal sphincter, IAS, or sphincter ani internus is a ring of smooth muscle that surrounds about 2.5–4.0 cm of the anal canal.It is about 5 mm thick, and is formed by an aggregation of the smooth (involuntary) circular muscle fibers of the rectum.
The external anal sphincter (or sphincter ani externus) is an oval tube of skeletal muscle fibers. [1] Distally, it is adherent to the skin surrounding the margin of the anus . [ 2 ] It exhibits a resting state of tonical contraction [ 1 ] and also contracts during the bulbospongiosus reflex .
Two sphincters control the exit of feces from the body during an act of defecation, which is the primary function of the anus. These are the internal anal sphincter and the external anal sphincter, which are circular muscles that normally maintain constriction of the orifice and which relax as required by normal physiological functioning. The ...
External anal sphincter (EAS) dysfunction is associated with impaired voluntary control, whereas internal anal sphincter (IAS) dysfunction is associated with impaired fine-tuning of fecal control. [1] Defects of the external anal sphincter are associated with urge incontinence. [22] The external anal sphincter is supplied by the pudendal nerve.
Anal encirclement effectively supplements the anal sphincter, narrowing the anal canal and its barrier function to stool, without altering voluntary control. Since complications are common, and can be serious (fecal impaction, infection, erosion of encirclement through anal canal), modern surgeons prefer to perform colostomy.
The sphincter urethrae, or urethral sphincter, controlling the exit of urine from the body. At the anus, there are two anal sphincters which control the exit of feces from the body, the internal anal sphincter and external anal sphincter. The inner sphincter is involuntary and the outer is voluntary.
The rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR), also known as the anal sampling mechanism, anal sampling reflex, rectosphincteric reflex, or anorectal sampling reflex, is a reflex characterized by a transient involuntary relaxation of the internal anal sphincter in response to distention of the rectum. [1]
This causes the conscious feeling of the need to defecate. At a suitable time the brain can send signals causing the external anal sphincter and puborectalis muscle to relax as these are under voluntary control and this allows defecation to take place. [4] [5]