13. When are internal haemorrhoids more common?
Correct answer: During pregnancy owing to venous congestion caused by the large gravid uterus and the laxity of the supporting tissues caused by the influence of progesterone.
12. What is the pathology of haemorrhoids?
Correct answer: Internal haemorrhoids, or piles, are abnormal anal cushions, usually congested as a result of straining at stool, and traumatized by the passage of a hard stool. The anal cushions are particularly prominent in pregnancy owing to the venous…
11. What is the external haemorrhoid?
Correct answer: External haemorrhoids is a term that should be abandoned, as it is applied to a conglomeration of quite different entities including perianal haematoma (‘thrombosed external pile’), the ‘sentinel pile’ of fissure in ano and perianal skin tags. Strictly speaking, internal…
10. What is an internal haemorrhoid?
Correct answer: An internal haemorrhoid is a congested vascular cushion with dilated venous compartments draining into the superior rectal veins.
9. How are haemorrhoids classified?
Correct answer: Haemorrhoids (or piles; the words are synonymous) may be classified according to their relationship to the anal orifice into internal, external and interoexternal.
8. Where are the draining veins of the anal cushions commonly felt?
Correct answer: Just below the dentate line.
7. Which veins drain the anal cushions?
Correct answer: The superior rectal vein.
6. Which arteries give blood supply to the anal cushions?
Correct answer: The rectal arteries.
5. What makes up an anal cushion?
Correct answer: The anal cushions comprise highly vascular tissue lining the anal canal, with a rich supply from the rectal arteries, which anastomose with the draining veins both through capillaries and through direct arteriovenous shunts. The draining veins form saccules,…
4. What are the two important structures involved in anal continence?
Correct answer: Anal sphincters and anal cushions.
