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.
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.
Excerpt from the introduction of a report on hemorrhoidectomy written by WC Bornemeier and published in Am J of Proc, Feb, 1960.)
