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anus
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Illustration of the large intestine showing labeled anatomical features such as the rectum, colon, and anus, with an inset highlighting regions of the colon and a detailed cross-section of the intestinal wall layers, including mucosa, crypts, goblet cells, muscle layers, and serosa. The Human Body
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structures of the human large intestine, rectum, and anus
structures of the human large intestine, rectum, and anus The mucosa of the large intestine is punctuated with numerous crypts that absorb water and are lined with mucus-secreting goblet cells. At the lower end of the rectum, the circular and longitudinal muscle layers terminate in the internal and external anal sphincters.

anus

anatomy
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anus, terminal opening of the anal canal, the portion of the digestive tract through which fecal material is excreted. See also rectum.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Rick Livingston.