The colon is the large intestine, and the last part of the digestive system. It absorbs water and electrolytes from digested food, and produces feces. The colon is about 1.5 meters long in a living human, and consists of four sections: the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and sigmoid colon. Each section has a different function in digesting food.
The ascending colon starts at the cecum, where the small intestine meets the large intestine. The ascending colon goes up the right side of the abdomen toward the transverse colon. Its main function is to reabsorb water and electrolytes from fecal matter.
The transverse colon extends across the abdomen from right to left. It begins at the junction of the ascending and descending colons (the splenic flexure) and ends at the hepatic flexure. The main function of the transverse colon is to mix fecal matter with bacteria so that digestion can continue in the small intestine.
The descending Colon starts at teh hepatic flexure and moves downward on teh left side of teh abdomen toward teh Sigmoid Colon . Its primary purpose is to absorb water from fecal matter before it reaches teh Sigmoid Colon .
Sigmoid Colon : Is shaped like an upside-down “U.” It connects teh descending Colon on teh left side with rectum which opens into anus on bottom . Feces are stored here until they are ready to be eliminated through anal canal .