The Anatomy of the Colon:
The colon, or large intestine, is part of the digestive system, which is a series of organs from the mouth to the anus. When the shape of the colon or the way it connects to other organs is abnormal, digestive problems result. Some of these anatomic problems can occur during embryonic development of the fetus in the womb and are known as congenital abnormalities. Other problems develop with age.
The adult colon is about 5 feet long. It connects to the small bowel, which is also known as the small intestine. The major functions of the colon are to absorb water and salts from partially digested food that enters from the small bowel and then send waste out of the body through the anus. What remains after absorption is stool, which passes from the colon into the rectum and out through the anus when a person has a bowel movement.
The colon comprises of several segments:
The small bowel and colon are held in position by tissue known as the mesentery. The ascending colon and descending colon are fixed in place in the abdominal cavity. The cecum, transverse colon, and sigmoid colon are suspended from the back of the abdominal wall by the mesentery.
Topics:
Information provided by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 05–5120, February 2005. Downloaded December 7, 2007 from http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/anatomiccolon/index.htm
Image Credit: National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
This Page Last Revised: August 26, 2011
The colon, or large intestine, is part of the digestive system, which is a series of organs from the mouth to the anus. When the shape of the colon or the way it connects to other organs is abnormal, digestive problems result. Some of these anatomic problems can occur during embryonic development of the fetus in the womb and are known as congenital abnormalities. Other problems develop with age.
The adult colon is about 5 feet long. It connects to the small bowel, which is also known as the small intestine. The major functions of the colon are to absorb water and salts from partially digested food that enters from the small bowel and then send waste out of the body through the anus. What remains after absorption is stool, which passes from the colon into the rectum and out through the anus when a person has a bowel movement.
The colon comprises of several segments:
the cecum, the portion just after the small bowelThe colon is formed during the first 3 months of embryonic development. As the bowel lengthens, part of it passes into the umbilical cord, which connects the fetus to the mother. As the fetus grows and the abdominal cavity enlarges, the bowel returns to the abdomen and turns, or rotates, counterclockwise to its final position.
the ascending colon
the transverse colon
the descending colon
the sigmoid colon, an S-shaped portion near the end of the colon
the rectum, where stool is stored until evacuation
The small bowel and colon are held in position by tissue known as the mesentery. The ascending colon and descending colon are fixed in place in the abdominal cavity. The cecum, transverse colon, and sigmoid colon are suspended from the back of the abdominal wall by the mesentery.
Topics:
A. Anatomy of the Colon
B. Anatomic Problems of the Colon
1. Malrotation and Volvulus
2. Small Bowel and Colonic Intussusception
3. Fistulas
4. Colonic Atresia
5. Sigmoid Volvulus
6. Cecal Volvulus
7. Imperforate Anus (Anal Atresia)
Information provided by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 05–5120, February 2005. Downloaded December 7, 2007 from http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/anatomiccolon/index.htm
Image Credit: National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
This Page Last Revised: August 26, 2011
