rectum

American  

[rek-tuhm] / ˈrɛk təm /

noun

Anatomy.

• rectums,
  plural
• recta
  plural

1. the comparatively straight, terminal section of the intestine, ending in the anus.

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rectum British  

/ ˈrɛktəm /

noun

1. the lower part of the alimentary canal, between the sigmoid flexure of the colon and the anus

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rectum Scientific  

/ rĕk′təm /

• rectums
  plural

1. The last section of the digestive tract, extending from the colon to the anus, in which feces is stored for elimination from the body.

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rectum Cultural  

1. The outermost portion of the large intestine. Feces are stored in the rectum until they are passed out of the body through the anus.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• recta
  plural
• rectums
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of rectum

1535–45; < New Latin rēctum ( intestīnum ) the straight (intestine)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rectum recta rectums

You’re also at risk of developing hemorrhoids—swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum that can cause pain and bleeding—according to a study that came out last week.

From Slate ● Sep. 12, 2025

When he arrived to see what the birds were eating, he found a dead cow, its rectum and udders torn away — classic wolf kill.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 21, 2025

Ms Stead's tear was missed by an obstetrician who was "rushing to finish" and it was later discovered a hole had opened up between her vagina and rectum.

From BBC ● May 24, 2024

In severe cases, patients may require surgical removal of all or part of the rectum.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 24, 2024

Strings of them ran over the surfaces of the liver, diaphragm, intestine, appendix, rectum, and heart.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

In juxtamedullary nephrons, the peritubular capillary network forms a network around the loop of Henle and is called the vasa recta.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Now consider what is happening in the adjacent capillaries, the vasa recta.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

This results in the recovery of NaCl to the circulation via the vasa recta and creates a high osmolar environment in the depths of the medulla.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

Movement of water from the glomerulus is primarily due to pressure, whereas that of peritubular capillaries and vasa recta is due to osmolarity and concentration gradients.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

If we take the ogee recta, as shown in Fig.

From Carpentry for Boys In a Simple Language, Including Chapters on Drawing, Laying Out Work, Designing and Architecture With 250 Original Illustrations by James Slough Zerbe

Wouldn’t we have died out from these mysterious “toxins”? Wouldn’t our rectums be different?

From The Guardian ● Jan. 9, 2018

At one institution, mice consistently developed prolapsed rectums and died two months after birth.

From Nature ● Jun. 9, 2015

A new survey finds that babies born via cesarean section had markedly different bacteria on their skin, noses mouths and rectums than babies born vaginally.

From US News ● Jun. 22, 2010

Babies’ mouths and skin were swabbed immediately after birth, and their rectums were swabbed after their first bowel movement.

From US News ● Jun. 22, 2010

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