Inability to relax anal sphincter

The internal anal sphincter is not under voluntary control, and in normal persons it is contracted at all times except when there is a need to defecate. You need to practice contracting your sphincter at least three times a day. Make a conscious effort to relax your buttocks and then try to relax the sphincter. Diarrhea from any cause makes incontinence worse since it is more difficult to control liquid stool than solid stool. The anal sphincter may become weak either from direct damage to the muscle or from damage to the nerves that cause the muscle to contract normally. It can occur in both children and adults, and in both men and women although it is more common in women. Once the person is seated on the toilet, the anal sphincter should relax and allow the anal canal to empty.

Kapur RP, Yost C, Palmiter D A transgenic model for studying development of the enteric nervous system in normal and aganglionic mice. Ask our community of thousands of members your health questions, and learn from others experiences. The primary functions of the rectum and pelvic floor muscles are to prevent incontinence loss of control or accidental leakage and to allow defecation to occur. Crowder also has experience as a technical writer of construction project specifications and computer software user manuals.