Bulging around the anus

The anus is an opening in the lower part of the digestive tract. When stool fills the rectum, the sphincter muscle relaxes, letting stool pass through the anus and out of the body. The external anal sphincter closes off the anus when stool has passed. Lumps that form around the anus — for a variety of reasons — can cause it to feel hard. There may also be swelling, pain , and discharge.

The anus is the opening at the end of your anal canal. The rectum sits between your colon and anus and acts as a holding chamber for stool. When pressure in your rectum becomes too great, the internal ring of muscle called the anal sphincter relaxes to allow stool to pass through your anal canal, the anus, and out of your body. The anus consists of glands, ducts, blood vessels, mucus, tissues, and nerve endings that can be highly sensitive to pain, irritation, and other sensations. Depending on the cause, a swollen anus can feel warm, cause sharp or burning pain especially after a bowel movement , and even produce bleeding and pus.

Rectal prolapse occurs when the rectum the last section of the large intestine falls from its normal position within the pelvic area and sticks out through the anus. The word "prolapse" means a falling down or slipping of a body part from its usual position. Rectal prolapse is common in older adults who have a long-term history of constipation or a weakness in the pelvic floor muscles. It is more common in women than in men, and even more common in women over the age of 50 postmenopausal women , but occurs in younger people too. Rectal prolapse can also occur in infants — which could be a sign of cystic fibrosis — and in older children.

Jump to content. Rectal prolapse occurs when part or all of the wall of the rectum slides out of place, sometimes sticking out of the anus. See a picture of rectal prolapse. There are three types of rectal prolapse.