General education for adults. This draft awaits qualified clinical review. Your choices are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan.
Human anatomy
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International. This model depicts one adult male. Stool, its route, water particles, coating, outlet rings, activation cues and muscle colors are teaching additions. Colors distinguish mechanisms; they are not the real colors or sizes of these processes. Muscle shapes stay fixed. The internal anal sphincter and anal canal are not separately modeled.
Anatomy source and license
When to seek care
Get prompt medical attention for constipation with blood in stool, constant abdominal pain, inability to pass gas, vomiting, fever or unexplained weight loss. Persistent or recurring constipation deserves assessment.
Medical references
