ANORECTAL MALFORMATIONS

Abstract

The rectum • and the anal canal , develop from terminal portion of the hindgut called the cloaca, which is divided by the urorectal septum into the rectum and cranal part of the anal canal dorsally and the urogenital sinus ventrally .The lower part of the anal canal develops from the proctoderm . The rectum begins as a continuation of the sigmoid colon•and

ends as the rectal ampulla. The anal canal is the last part of the alimentary tract. The junction of the rectum and the anal canal is the pelvic floor. Imperforate anus is a traditional term and is in- appropriate for great number of malformations of the anus and rectum as they may communicate with the urinary tract, the genital tract or to the skin of the penneum. The anorectal malformations are classified as (high) if the distal

blind pouch of the rectum is supralevator, (low anomalies) if they end below the levator muscles or (intermediate lesions) if the distal rectum, ends between the levator muscles. It was found with study that heredity plays insignificant role in the etiology. The anorectal anomalies may be associated with other veisceral anomalies in a syndrome manner Invertogram still the classical X ray used, recently a lateral X ray with the buttocks raised has proved to be equally diagnostic. Other methods of investigations include contrast X-ray, ultrasound scanning, endoscopy, electromyography and CT scanning. But MRI is the most diagnostic.