Can you poop intestines

The external anal sphincter EAS is made of striated muscle the same as the pelvic floor muscles ; we do have voluntary control over the EAS — allowing us to hold on if we are aware of wind or diarrhoea. The pelvic floor muscles are layers of muscle stretched like a sheet from the pubic bone in the front, to the bottom of the backbone coccyx. There are 3 openings through the pelvic floor in women and 2 in men -the anus back passage , the vagina in women birth canal and the urethra bladder outlet.

The muscles support these 3 openings, but if they are weakened or not in good condition they cannot support the openings effectively.

One of the muscle groups within levator ani is the puborectalis. This muscle forms a supportive strap around the junction between the rectum and the anal canal and helps to keep us in control of our bowels by forming a flap like valve, which prevents stool passing too easily into the anal canal. The brain tells the bowel what to do by sending electrical signals to the muscles in the pelvic floor, the sphincters and the urethra.

The commands from the brain to the bowel colon are sent as electrical impulses and are carried by a system of special fibres called nerves. These signals start in the brain and go to the spinal cord and continue to the nerves located in the sacral area of the back. Some of these sacral nerves go to the rectum, levator ani muscle, and external sphincter muscles, controlling their activities.

Two key sacral nerves that are vital to the functioning of the bowel are the pudendal nerve and the pelvic splanchnic nerve. Through a series of reflexes and signals the nerves in the bowel is coordinated with the pelvic floor muscles and anal sphincters in order to store bowel contents until there is an appropriate place to go to the toilet and then to allow complete bowel emptying once on the toilet.

This coordination ensures that the sphincters remain closed, opening only during defecation. So, when the rectum fills, and the pressure inside it increases, the nerves sense the pressure and tell the brain about it. The brain then sends signals via the nerves to keep the external sphincter closed. Normally, this prevents leakage and is called the guarding reflex.

When you need to go to the toilet, the brain tells the nerves to signal the rectum to empty, and relax the muscles surrounding the anus. We look at 11 causes here, along with the treatment options there are for each one.

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