MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia:Anal fissure

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Anal fissure - series: Indication

Anal fissure - series
Illustrations:

Normal anatomy

Indication

Incision

Procedure

Anal fissures are tears in the skin overlying the anal sphincter, usually due to increased tone of the anal sphincter muscles, and a failure of these muscle to relax. Anal fissures cause pain during defecation and bleeding from the anus.

Update Date: 7/17/2008

Updated by: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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