Home Forums Blogs Articles Photos Videos Contact FAQ

Colon anatomy

Colon anatomy: Encyclopedia - Colon anatomy

In anatomy of the digestive system, the colon, also called the large intestine or large bowel, is the part of the intestine from the cecum to the rectum. Its primary purpose is to extract water from feces. In mammals, it consists of the cecum, ascending colon and approximately the first two-thirds of the transverse colon on the right (or proximal) side and the last third of the transverse colon to the splenic flexure, the descending colon, the sigmo ...

Including:

Colon anatomy - Role in digestion

Colon anatomy - Diseases of the colon

Colon anatomy, Colon anatomy - Diseases of the colon, Colon anatomy - Role in digestion

Colon anatomy: Encyclopedia - Colon anatomy

Colon (anatomy)

In anatomy of the digestive system, the colon, also called the large intestine or large bowel, is the part of the intestine from the cecum to the rectum. Its primary purpose is to extract water from feces. In mammals, it consists of the cecum, ascending colon and approximately the first two-thirds of the transverse colon on the right (or proximal) side and the last third of the transverse colon to the splenic flexure, the descending colon, the sigmoid colon, and the rectum on the left (or distal) side.

Colon anatomy - Role in digestion

The large intestine comes after the small intestine in the digestive tract and measures approximately 1.5 meters in length. Although there are differences in the large intestine between different organisms, the large intestine is mainly responsible for storing waste, reclaiming water, maintaining the water balance, and absorbing some vitamins, such as vitamin K.

By the time the chyme has reached this tube, almost all nutrients and 90% of the water have been absorbed by the body. At this point some electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and chloride are left as well as indigestible carbohydrates known as dietary fiber. As the chyme moves through the large intestine, most of the remaining water is removed, while the chyme is mixed with mucus and bacteria known as gut flora, and becomes feces. The bacteria break down some of the fiber for their own nourishment and create acetate, propionate, and butyrate as waste products, which in turn are used by the cells lining of the colon for nourishment. This is an example of a symbiotic relationship and provides about 100 Calories a day to the body. The large intestine produces no digestive enzymes — chemical digestion is completed in the small intestine before the chyme reaches the large intestine. The pH in the colon varies between 5.5 and 7 (slightly acidic to neutral).