Anal Fissure
Medical Author: Thomas Sokol, MD, FACS, FASCRS
Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD
What are anal fissures?
An anal fissure is a cut or tear occuring in the anus (the opening through
which stool passes out of
the body) that extends upwards into the anal canal. Fissures are a common condition
of the anus and anal canal and are responsible
for 6-15% of the visits to a colonic and rectal
(colorectal) surgeon. They affect men and women equally and both the
young and the old. Fissures
usually cause pain during bowel movements that often is severe. Anal fissure is the most
common cause of rectal bleeding
in
infancy.
Anal fissures occur in the specialized tissue that lines
the anus and anal canal, called anoderm. At a line just inside the
anus--referred to as the anal verge or intersphincteric groove--the skin
(dermis) of the inner buttocks changes to anoderm. Unlike skin, anoderm has no
hairs, sweat glands, or
sebaceous (oil) glands and contains a larger number of somatic sensory nerves
that sense light touch and pain. (The abundance of nerves explains why anal
fissures are so painful.) The hairless, gland-less, extremely sensitive anoderm
continues for the entire length of the anal canal until it meets the demarcating
line for the rectum, called the dentate line. (The rectum is the distal 15 cm of
the colon that lies just above the anus and rectum and just below the sigmoid colon.)
Next: What causes anal fissures? »
 |
 |
From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com  |
|
|
- Colonoscopy - Learn about the colonscopy procedure, what it is, why it is performed, preparation, complications, alternatives and the after effects of the screening exam on MedicineNet.com Source:MedicineNet
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy - Read about flexible sigmoidoscopy procedure used to examine the lower portion of the colon and rectum. It may be used to investigate the cause of rectal bleeding, bowel changes, rectal pain, and diarrhea. Source:MedicineNet
- Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy - Read about stapled hemorrhoidectomy a relatively new surgical procedure for treating hemorrhoids. This procedure is faster, and is associated with less pain than with the traditional hemorrhoidectomy. Illustrations of the procedure are included in the information. Source:MedicineNet
- Read 15 more Anal Fissure related articles ...
|
| |
|
Last Editorial Review: 8/4/2005
Specialty RSS
Ask the Experts
