constipation and incontinence are of considerable importance to a great number of patients but many put it under taboo. both functional disturbances comprise a wide spectrum of pathophysiological findings of neuro-muscular changes of the colon or the pelvic floor, but psychological factors may play an important role as well. in recent years much progress has been made in several disciplines which are important for the understanding and handling of constipation and incontinence. this volume, the proceedings of falk symposium no. 95 held in freiburg, germany, october 28-30, 1996, concentrates on clinically relevant and open questions rather than trying to cover the whole field in all details.