The Anal opening: 

The human body has two openings as it is understood. The mouth takes in the food while the other opening known as rectum, is the opening that helps the waste to pass out from. This is also known as the anal opening. It is necessary for the extra food not needed by the human body anymore to pass out. Otherwise the abnormal holding back of waste material can lead to many diseases.     

The anal canal is about an inch and a half long. Its inner lining (called the mucosa) is made up of several different kinds of cells. Learning a little about these cells is helpful in understanding the kinds of cancer that develop in various parts of the anal canal. Glands and ducts (tubes leading from the glands) are found under the mucosa. These “anal glands” make mucus, which acts as a lubricating fluid.

 The anal canal is the tube that goes from the rectum to the anal margin (where the canal meets the outside skin at the anus). About midway down the anal canal is the dentate line, which is where most of the glands empty into the anus. Cells above the anal canal (in the rectum) are mainly shaped like tiny columns, while most of those in the upper anal canal just above the dentate line are shaped like cubes and are called transitional cells. This area is called the transitional zone. Below the dentate line are flat (squamous) cells.

The anal margin (also called the anal verge) is lined by squamous cells that merge with the skin just outside the anus (called perianal skin). The anal canal is surrounded by a sphincter, which is a circular muscle that keeps feces from coming out until it is relaxed during a bowel movement.

 The rectum and the anus are very vulnerable parts of the human body. It has to be made sure that they function properly. The timely excretion that takes about 24 hours is very important otherwise a person’s body can suffer from multiple diseases. The reason is that the stools passed out are a wastes material. The body does not require it any longer so it has to be excreted. Cancer development in this particular area is not very common. Mostly, tumors and the like that tend to form in these areas. In severe cases these tumors can turn into cancer.

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