US Medical Term · anatomy
Rectum
Recto
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Rectum |
| Spanish (Español) | Recto |
| Chinese (中文) | 直腸 |
| Korean (한국어) | 직장 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Trực tràng |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Rektum |
| Portuguese (Português) | Reto |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ทวารหนักส่วนต้น |
| Japanese (日本語) | 直腸 |
What it means
The rectum is the final five to six inches of the large intestine, connecting the sigmoid colon to the anal canal. It stores stool until the body is ready to have a bowel movement. Stretch receptors in the rectal wall sense when stool has filled the rectum and send a signal that creates the urge to defecate. Common conditions of the rectum include hemorrhoids — swollen veins in or around the rectum and anus — rectal bleeding, rectal cancer, and rectal prolapse, where the rectum slides out of place. Doctors examine the rectum with a digital rectal exam, a sigmoidoscopy, or a colonoscopy to check for abnormalities.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I have been having rectal bleeding and the doctor wants to look at my rectum with a scope.
He tenido sangrado rectal y el médico quiere examinar mi recto con un endoscopio.
The MRI showed the tumor is in the rectum, not higher up in the colon.
La resonancia magnética mostró que el tumor está en el recto, no más arriba en el colon.
My hemorrhoids are painful — the doctor said they are swollen veins in and around my rectum.
Mis hemorroides son dolorosas. El médico dijo que son venas hinchadas dentro y alrededor de mi recto.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026