Question

Constipation is a recognized consequence of 

A. Sensory denervation of the rectum. 

B. Psychological stress. 

C. Abnormality of the autonomic nerve supply to the colon. 

D. A diet that leaves little unabsorbed residue in the gut. 

E. Over-activity of the thyroid gland as in thyrotoxicosis.

Answer 1

A. True This breaks the reflex arc on which defaecation depends. 

B. True Stress may modify the reflex to cause either constipation or diarrhoea. 

C. True In children this may cause megacolon. 

D. True Frequency of defaecation is related to the bulk of food residues. 

E. False This leads to increased frequency of defaecation.