| lymph nodes of elbow | Two groups of nodes, superficial and deep, lying along the basilic vein above the medial epicondyle; they receive afferents from the ulnar side of the forearm and hand, and send efferents to the brachial nodes. Synonym: nodi lymphatici cubitales, epitrochlear nodes, lymph nodes of elbow. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| administration, rectal | The insertion of drugs into the rectum, usually for confused or incompetent patients, like children, infants, and the very old or comatose. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cancer, rectal | A malignant tumour arising from the inner wall of the end (rectum) of the large intestine. The third leading cause of cancer in males, fourth in females in the U.S. Risk factors for cancer of the colon and rectum (colorectal cancer) include heredity, colon polyps, and long standing ulcerative colitis. most colorectal cancers develop from polyps. Removal of colon polyps can prevent colorectal cancer. Colon polyps and early cancer can have no symptoms. Therefore, regular screening is important. Diagnosis can be made by barium enema or by colonoscopy with biopsy confirmation of cancer tissue. Surgery is the most common treatment for colorectal cancer. (12 Dec 1998) |
| rectal | <anatomy> Pertaining to the rectum, the distal portion of the large intestine. (18 Nov 1997) |
| rectal ampulla | A dilated portion of the rectum just above the anal canal. Synonym: ampulla recti, ampulla of rectum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rectal anaesthesia | General anaesthesia produced by instillation into the rectum of a solution containing a central nervous system depressant. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rectal cancer | A malignant tumour arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. The third leading cause of cancer in males, fourth in females in the u.s. Risk factors include heredity (family history), colon polyps, and long-standing ulcerative colitis. most colorectal cancers develop from polyps. Colon polyp removal can prevent colorectal cancer. Colon polyps and early cancer can have no symptoms so regular screening is important. Diagnosis of colorectal cancer can be made by barium enema or by colonoscopy with biopsy confirmation of cancer. (12 Dec 1998) |
| rectal columns | A number of vertical ridges in the mucous membrane of the upper half of the anal canal formed as the caliber of the canal is sharply reduced from that of the rectal ampulla. Synonym: columnae anales, Morgagni's columns, rectal columns. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rectal fistula | Abnormal passage communicating with the rectum. (12 Dec 1998) |
| rectal folds | The three or four crescentic folds placed horizontally in the rectal mucous membrane; the superior rectal fold is situated near the beginning of the rectum on the left side; the middle rectal fold (Nelaton's fold) is most prominent and consistent and projects from the right side about 8 cm above the anus (approximately the level of the floor of the rectouterine or rectovesical pouch); the inferior rectal fold is on the left side about 5 cm above the anus. Synonym: plicae transversales recti, Houston's folds, Houston's valves, Kohlrausch's valves, plicae recti, rectal folds, rectal valves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rectal plexuses | See: inferior rectal plexuses, middle rectal plexuses, superior rectal plexus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rectal prolapse | Protrusion of the rectal mucous membrane through the anus. There are various degrees: incomplete with no displacement of the anal sphincter muscle; complete with displacement of the anal sphincter muscle; complete with no displacement of the anal sphincter muscle but with herniation of the bowel; and internal complete with rectosigmoid or upper rectum intussusception into the lower rectum. (12 Dec 1998) |
| rectal reflex | The entrance of faecal matter into the rectum from the sigmoid colon causes an impulse to defecate. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rectal shelf | A shelf palpable by rectal examination, due to metastatic tumour cells gravitating from an abdominal cancer and growing in the rectovesical or rectouterine pouch. Synonym: Blumer's shelf. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rectal sinuses | The grooves between the anal columns. Synonym: Morgagni's sinus. Pockets or crypts in the columnar zone of the anal canal between the anocutaneous line and the anorectal line; the sinuses give the mucosa a scalloped appearance. Synonym: sinus anales, anal crypts, Morgagni's crypts, rectal sinuses. (05 Mar 2000) |