rectum

/'rektəm/

Thân thiện

A doctor points to a diagram of the rectum during a medical presentation.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The terminal section of the alimentary canal: The rectum is the final, straight portion of the large intestine, connecting the sigmoid colon to the anus. Its primary function is to store feces until they are eliminated from the body.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The doctor examined the patient's rectum during the procedure.
  • The rectum acts as a temporary storage site for waste material.

Advanced Usage

• Medical Context: The term is primarily used in anatomical, medical, and biological contexts.
  • The tumor was located in the lower rectum.
• Comparative Anatomy: Used when discussing the digestive systems of different animals.
  • In mammals, the rectum is a distinct part of the digestive tract.

Variants and Related Words

• Rectal (adj): Pertaining to the rectum.
  • The medication was administered via a rectal suppository.

Synonyms

• Terminal gut: A less common synonym referring to the end section of the intestines.
• Distal colon: In some contexts, this can refer to the final part of the large intestine, including the rectum.

Notes on Meaning

• The word "rectum" is a singular noun. Its standard plural form is rectums, though the Latin plural recta is sometimes used in formal medical writing.
• It refers specifically to an anatomical structure and is not typically used in figurative or idiomatic language.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the terminal section of the alimentary canal; from the sigmoid flexure to the anus