Page 34 - NAMAH-Jul-2019

Namah Vol. 27, Issue 2, 15th July 2019

intra-rectal pressure initially forces the in the rising of blood pressure. Such excessive
walls of the anal sphincter apart and allows straining for defecation can be hazardous to
excretion of the faecal material through the health. It can cause cardiac arrest and other
anal outlet. The muscles attached to the pelvic cardiovascular complications.
floor further help to pull the anal sphincter
apart. The rectum shortens by contraction of In healthy bowel movement conditions,
circular muscles in order to expel material one gets well-formed faeces. It may take
into the anal outlet. The peristaltic waves just one or two minutes to accomplish the
propel the faeces out of the rectum. In defecation. The postures and modalities of
the anus there are two muscular constrictors, defecation are culture-dependent. Squatting
the internal and external sphincters that toilets are used by the vast majority in India.
govern the passage of faeces or retention of There would be no irritation. In ideal cases
faeces. As the faeces form, the anus is drawn there would be no trace of faecal matter
up over the passing mass by muscles of the smeared on the outer anal skin or buttocks.
pelvic diaphragm to prevent prolapse of the In general the anus and buttocks need to
anal canal.While defecation is occurring, be cleansed after defecation. In India,water
the excretion of urine is usually stimulated. is used for anal cleansing after defecation
Once defecation is complete, the space of the (exclusively or in addition to using toilet
rectum undergoes involution. paper).

One should promptly comply with the urge Water consumed by us orally gets completely
to defecate. If it is not complied by within a absorbed in the small and large intestines.
few minutes the urge passes off. This leads Faeces contain 65-85% water. The cellulose
to the return of the faeces back to the colon. component of food is completely indigestible
Under these circumstances, returned faeces fibre, providing volume and bulk to the
may get hardened by further absorption of faeces. The more fibre one eats the more of
water in the colon. If defecation is delayed undigested food wastes can be discharged
for a prolonged period the faecal matter may from the body. The normal colour of faeces
harden, resulting in constipation. should be brownish in adults and yellow
in infants. White or clay-coloured faeces
Some people cultivate a wrong habit indicate a block of the bile duct, obstructing
of defecation by straining. During the act the passage of bile in the system. Black tarry
of straining the lungs push the diaphragm faeces indicate bleeding in the gastrointestinal
down to exert the pressure. If one strains tract or consumption of iron supplements.
hard to facilitate excretion, the chest muscles, Bright red-coloured blood indicates bleeding
diaphragm, abdominal-wall muscles and in lower gastrointestinal tract (rectum or near
pelvic diaphragm all exert intra-abdominal the rectum). The normal shape of faeces is
pressure. Respiration temporarily halts as cylindrical, about 2.5 cm in diameter in
the filled lungs push the diaphragm down adults. The normal amount emitted per day
to exert pressure. It can give rise to prolapse would be between 100 to 400 grams per day
of the rectum. It can aggravate inguinal depending upon the person’s diet. Normal
hernia. The straining to defecate also results odour: aromatic, affected by ingested food

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