Puborectalis

Looks like

A U-shaped sling of muscle from the pubic bone looping behind the rectum.

What it does

Pulls the rectum forward to keep a bend that holds stool in; relaxes to let it out.

Keeping it well

Failure to relax causes straining and constipation; biofeedback therapy helps. Loss of stool control needs assessment.

Related conditions

• Bone metastases and spinal cord compression
• Botulism
• Chronic constipation
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Prostatitis & pelvic pain
• Rectal prolapse
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Tetanus
• Vulvodynia and vaginismus