Rectum facts for kids

The rectum is a part of your digestive system. It's the last straight section of the large intestine in people and many animals. Think of it as the very end of your 'gut' or digestive tube.

For adults, the rectum is about 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long. After the rectum comes a short tube called the anal canal, which is about 4 centimetres (1.6 in) long. This canal ends at the anal verge, which is the opening where waste leaves your body. The word 'rectum' comes from Latin words meaning 'straight intestine'.

The rectum acts like a temporary storage area for feces (poop). It receives waste material from the descending colon, which is another part of your large intestine. This material moves along thanks to regular muscle movements called peristalsis.

As the rectum fills up, special sensors in its walls send messages to your nervous system. These messages tell your brain that it's time to go to the bathroom. This process of passing feces out of your body is called defecation.

Images for kids

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  Arteries of the pelvis

See also

In Spanish: Recto para niños