title: Spontaneous anorectal pressure activity. Evidence of internal anal sphincter contractions in response to rectal pressure waves.
abstract: To characterize spontaneous anorectal pressure activity and a possible relation between the activity in the rectum and the anal canal, 11 healthy female volunteers were investigated. Resting activities were obtained during 1-h recordings with a multi-channel perfused catheter measuring the pressure 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 cm from the anal verge. In five subjects sequences of rhythmic rectal pressure waves with amplitudes exceeding the maximal anal resting pressure coincided with a similar internal anal sphincter activity, preventing rectal pressure from exceeding the anal pressure at any point. The mean frequency was 5 x min-1 (range, 3-6 x min-1). This may well be a reflex mechanism by which the internal anal sphincter prevents incontinence in the resting state. Low-frequency pressure waves, not previously described, were detected in four women. These pressure waves were attributed to the internal anal sphincter and were named ultra-slow waves type II. The mean frequency and amplitude were 0.16 x min-1 (range, 0.15-0.17 x min-1) and 24 cm H2O (range, 11-41 cm H2O), respectively. The function of these pressure waves is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Aarhus Municipal Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gregersen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Djurhuus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D011312:Pressure; D012007:Rectum / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors