INTRODUCTION: Some degree of postoperative fecal incontinence is frequently seen after anterior rectal resection, however, a pathophysiological mechanism is still not completely clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the colorectal anastomosis height on objective and clinical parameters of anorectal function. ----- MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our study included 30 patients who underwent an anterior rectal resection due to a diagnosed operable carcinoma of the rectum or a rectosigmoid junction. Six months after surgery the participants were readmitted for anorectal manometry and asked to complete an incontinence questionnaire. ----- RESULTS: The results of our study revealed a great impact of the colorectal anastomosis height on postoperative anorectal function, which is particularly seen through the high negative correlation of the height of the anastomosis and the Wexner score, as well as through the high positive correlation between the height of the anastomosis and the rectal compliance. We found worsening of all clinical and manometric parameters, except for resting pressure and squeeze pressure with decrease in height of the anastomosis where the distance of 9 cm from anal verge was distinguished as a breakpoint for developing anterior resection syndrome. Analyzing the correlation between manometric and clinical parameters, the impaired rectal compliance was found to be the most important pathophysiological factor for the development of postoperative anorectal dysfunction. As expected, the connection between normal function of rectoanal inhibitory reflex and fecal discrimination, as well as the connection between rectal compliance and urgency, was confirmed. ----- CONCLUSION: Pathophysiology of postoperative anorectal dysfunction is a complex diagnostic problem in which anorectal manometry has proven to be an extremely valuable tool. Our research sheds light on part of this issue, while the growing incidence of anterior resection syndrome among the population obliges us to do further research on this topic, because understanding the mechanism of this disorder is the only way to find ways to prevent or treat postoperative continence disorder.