Rectal refers to something that relates to or is located within the rectum, which is the final segment of the large intestine. The rectum serves as a temporary storage area for feces before they are expelled from the body through the anus during defecation.
In medical terms, rectal can pertain to medical procedures or treatments that involve the rectum. For instance, a rectal examination is a diagnostic procedure where a healthcare professional inserts a lubricated gloved finger into the rectum to assess the tissues, check for any abnormalities or masses, or evaluate the prostate gland in men. Similarly, rectal medications or suppositories are medications that are administered through the rectum, aiming for absorption into the bloodstream.
Conditions or diseases that affect the rectum can also be referred to as rectal disorders. These may include rectal prolapse, rectal bleeding, rectal abscess, or rectal cancer, among others.
In a broader context, the term rectal may also be used more colloquially or informally to describe anything that is related to the buttocks area. In this sense, it may refer to rectal muscles, rectal itching, or rectal pressure, which could be symptoms of various medical conditions such as hemorrhoids or anal fissures.
Overall, rectal describes anything pertaining to the rectum, its functions, medical procedures, or health conditions affecting this area of the body.
