Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Irritation of the skin at the exit of the rectum, accompanied by the desire to scratch. The intensity of anal itching is increased by moisture, pressure, and abrasion caused by clothing and sitting. It may be caused by irritating chemicals in food (as in spices, hot sauces, and peppers); irritation due to frequent liquid stools, as in diarrhea; diseases, such…

Inability to hold feces in the rectum. This is due to failure of voluntary control over the anal sphincters. This failure results in the untimely passage of feces and gas. There are many causes of anal incontinence, including congenital disorders of the spinal cord or anus; subsequent injuries to the rectum and anus; obstetric injuries during…

An opening in the skin near the anus that leads into a blind pouch or may connect through a tunnel with the rectal canal.

A tear in the anal canal, one of the most common causes of red blood in the stool.

Congenital absence of an opening at the bottom end of the intestinal tract. Also called imperforate anus. Occurs in about 1 in 5,000 births. It is corrected by surgery. Atresia refers here to the absence of a normal opening.

Loss of feeling or awareness, as when an anesthetic is administered before surgery.

Not requiring oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria, for example, do not require oxygen to grow.

Antinuclear antibody, an unusual antibody directed against structures within the nucleus of the cell. ANAs are found in patients whose immune system is predisposed to cause inflammation against their own body tissues. Antibodies that are directed against one’s own tissues are referred to as autoantibodies. The propensity for the immune system to work against its…

Prefix very much employed in medicine and all of the health sciences, indicating “not, without, or -less.” For example, the prefix “an” figures into these words: anemia (without blood), anophthalmia (no eye), anotia (no ear), anoxia (no oxygen). The “an-” usually becomes “a-” before a consonant as, for example, in alexia (not read), aphagia (not eat), aphonia…