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Definition of Rectal (adjective)
Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026
Rectal (adjective): Having to do with the rectum, the last 6 to 8 inches of the large intestine that serves to store solid waste until it leaves the body through the anus.
The word "rectal" comes from the Latin "rectus" meaning "straight" (which the human rectum is not).