Anal Sacs (also known as Anal Sac, Anal Glands, Animal): A pair of anal glands or sacs, located on either side of the ANUS, that produce and store a dark, foul-smelling fluid in carnivorous animals such as MEPHITIDAE and DOGS. The expelled fluid is used as a defensive repellent (in skunks) or a material to mark territo

NIH MeSH · D000695Anatomy

Anal Sacs

Also known asAnal Sac · Anal Glands, Animal · Anal Gland, Animal

Definition

A pair of anal glands or sacs, located on either side of the ANUS, that produce and store a dark, foul-smelling fluid in carnivorous animals such as MEPHITIDAE and DOGS. The expelled fluid is used as a defensive repellent (in skunks) or a material to mark territory (in dogs).

MeSH classification

  • A13.073

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Common questions about Anal Sacs

What does Anal Sacs mean in medicine?
A pair of anal glands or sacs, located on either side of the ANUS, that produce and store a dark, foul-smelling fluid in carnivorous animals such as MEPHITIDAE and DOGS. The expelled fluid is used as a defensive repellent (in skunks) or a material to mark territory (in dogs). This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Anal Sacs known by any other names?
Yes. Anal Sacs is also referred to as Anal Sac, Anal Glands, Animal, Anal Gland, Animal in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Anal Sacs sit in the medical classification?
Anal Sacs falls under the broader medical category "Anatomy" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: A13.073). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Anal Sacs?
For a plain-language explanation of Anal Sacs - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 22+ Indian languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Anal Sacs" above.

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D000695) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗