Anus As A Hockey Player

"They say man has succeeded where the animals fail because of the clever use of his hands, yet when compared to the hands, the sphincter ani is far superior. If you place into your cupped hands a mixture of fluid, solid and gas and then through an opening at the bottom, try to let only the gas escape, you will fail. Yet the sphincter ani can do it, The sphincter apparently can differentiate between solid, fluid and gas. It apparently can tell whether its owner is alone or with someone, whether standing up or sitting down, whether its owner has his pants on or off. No other muscle in the body is such a protector of the dignity of man, yet so ready to come to his relief. A muscle like this is worth protecting."

n.b. The above is taken from the classic panegyric by Vesalius, 1543, in "De humani corporis fabrica” On reading this to a class, I received a comment via e-mail giving an elegant description of the muscle's skill: "There is not a muscle or structure in the body that has a more keenly developed sense of alertness and ability to accommodate itself to varying situations. It is like the goalie in hockey ... always alert."

DrLaennec ClinicalUSMLE (Yahoo chat) always interested in chatting, your only a stranger once

I like your thesis on this gallant muscle and you described its function very well indeed.

Well done.

Frazer

Very interesting,....