ABSTRACT
Galen (1) (129-200 A.D.) was the first to describe the anatomy of the anal sphincter and its role in continence and defecation. In 1543, the anatomist Andreas Vesalius (2) published the first illustrations with an in-depth description of the anatomy of the anorectum and pelvic floor. However, the anatomy of this region is so intrinsically related to its physiology that many aspects are appreciated only in the living. Therefore, it is a region in which the colorectal surgeon has advantages over the anatomist with experience relative to in vivo dissection as well as physiological and endoscopic examinations. Recent advances in both anorectal physiology and surgical techniques have renewed the interest in more detailed studies of anatomy (3-9). Recently a novel virtual reality model has been designed to teach anorectal pelvic floor anatomy, pathology, and surgery (10). This virtual reality technology was proposed to improve visualization of three-dimensional structures over conventional media on the premise that it supports stereoscopic vision, viewer-centered perspective, large angles of view, and interactivity.
