The anus is an opening in the lower part of the digestive tract. When stool fills the rectum, the sphincter muscle relaxes, letting stool pass through the anus and out of the body. The external anal sphincter closes off the anus when stool has passed. Lumps that form around the anus — for a variety of reasons — can cause it to feel hard. There may also be swelling, pain , and discharge. The anus is comprised of skin and internal intestinal tissue, which consists of mucus glands, blood vessels, lymph nodes, and sensitive nerve endings.

The anus usually consists of soft tissue. However, this tissue can become hard due to infections and other medical conditions, many of which range in severity. When this happens, it may feel as though there is a hard lump in the area. The anus is the opening at the lower part of the digestive tract, where stool exits the body.

The anus is the endpoint of the gastrointestinal, or GI, tract. It is where stool exits the body. A person may wish to better understand their symptoms by touching the anus and surrounding area. It is crucial to wash the hands before and after doing so to prevent the spread of bacteria. Anal fissures are small cuts or tears that occur in or on the anus.

A non-cancerous, or benign, tumour of the anus is a growth that does not spread metastasize to other parts of the body. Non-cancerous tumours are not usually life-threatening. Anal warts are growths that can develop on the skin around the anus called perianal skin and on the lining of the anal canal.