title: Sclerosis of the internal anal sphincter--a process of aging.
abstract: Functional and organic alterations such as sclerosis of the internal anal sphincter muscle are often discussed as a cause of proctologic diseases. Systematic histopathologic examinations of this muscle are rare, although the internal anal sphincter is of primary significance for the continence of the anal canal and its functional efficiency. The authors believe that the degree of formation of connective tissue in this unstriated muscle depends on the age of the examined specimen. The authors can demonstrate that sclerosis is a physiologic process of aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, RWTH-Aachen, West Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klosterhalfen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Offner
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Topf
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mittermayer
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D012598:Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*