BACKGROUND/AIMS External anal sphincter (EAS) and puborectalis muscle (PRM) play important role in anal continence function. Based on length-tension measurement, we recently reported that the human EAS muscle operates at short sarcomere length under phys-iological conditions. Goal of our study was to determine if PRM also operates at the short sarcomere length. METHODS Length-tension relation...

OBJECTIVE Compare pelvic morphology between asymptomatic African-American and white nulliparous women. STUDY DESIGN Resting supine T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained in 12 African-American (AA) and 10 white American (WA) women without pelvic floor dysfunction. Three-dimensional models were reconstructed from the MR images by a masked investigator, and predefined bony and...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Anal sphincter weakness and rectal sensory disturbances contribute to faecal incontinence (FI). Our aims were to investigate the relationship between symptoms, risk factors, and disordered anorectal and pelvic floor functions in FI. METHODS In 52 women with "idiopathic" FI and 21 age matched asymptomatic women, we assessed symptoms by standardised questionnaire, anal press...

BACKGROUND Anismus is thought to be a cause of chronic constipation by producing outlet obstruction. The underlying mechanism is paradoxical contraction of the anal sphincter or puborectalis muscle. However, paradoxical sphincter contraction (PSC) also occurs in healthy controls, so anismus may be diagnosed too often because it may be based on a non-specific finding related to untoward conditio...

The longitudinal anal muscle (LAM) has been described as a vertical layer of muscular tissue interposed between the circular layers of the internal (IAS) and external (EAS) anal sphincters. There is, however, no general agreement in the literature on its composition and attachments. The aim of this study was to investigate the histological structure, attachments, and topography of the LAM in or...

Aim To describe the abnormalities at MR imaging and related complaints in patients with poor outcome after STARR procedure. Materials and Methods The medical records of 21 symptomatic patients from centre 1, 31 patients from centre 2, and 63 patients from centre 3 were reviewed with regard to findings at MR defecography and related symptoms. Results Regardless of the centre, most relevant i...