Weak Sphincter Incontinence Fecal incontinence is the release of someone's rectal contents against their wishes. Half of all people complaining to doctors of diarrhea have incontinence. Incontinence is the most common cause for institutionalizing an elderly person. It ranks above incompetence. It is a nearly insurmountable obstacle in keeping a child in a public school.
Fecal incontinence is much more debilitating than urinary incontinence.
There are two muscles which make up the anal sphincters, the internal anal sphincter and the external anal sphincter. The internal anal sphincter is a thin white muscle wrapped around the anal canal. The internal sphincter has a resting tightness which keeps small amounts of liquid and gas from escaping unexpectedly during rest and sleep. The external anal sphincter is a large thick red voluntary muscle. It is the one you squeeze when you feel the urge to go to the bathroom but are not near a bathroom yet.