What is the most likely diagnosis for a patient with bright red blood after bowel movements and a superficial tear observed during examination?

The presentation of bright red blood following bowel movements, along with the observation of a superficial tear during examination, strongly indicates an anal fissure. Anal fissures are typically caused by trauma to the anal canal, often due to passing hard stools. This trauma results in a tear in the mucosal lining of the anus, leading to sharp pain during bowel movements and bright red blood.

The superficial tear noted during the examination correlates directly with the description of an anal fissure, as these tears are generally small and located at the posterior or anterior midline of the anal canal. The bright red blood is characteristic of lower gastrointestinal bleeding, which is commonly seen in anal fissures.

In contrast, conditions such as anorectal fistulas typically involve a more complex pathology involving an abnormal connection between the anal canal and the skin, which would not present solely as a superficial tear or cause localized bright red blood without other symptoms. Anorectal ulcers may present with bleeding but usually manifest as deeper lesions and are not limited to a superficial tear. Hemorrhoids might also cause bright red blood; however, they usually present with associated symptoms of swelling or prolapse and are more likely to generate blood that could be mixed with stool rather than observed exclusively as fresh blood resulting