Anatomy and physiology of the colon and

rectum
The large intestine is a hollow tube that makes up the last 6 feet of the digestive tract. It is often
referred to as the large bowel or colon (which is technically just one part of the large intestine).
The large intestine consists of the cecum (a pouch-like structure at beginning of the large
intestine) colon rectum and anus. The colon and rectum are ne!t to other organs including the
spleen liver pancreas and reproductive and urinary organs. "ach of these organs can be affected
if colorectal cancer spreads beyond the large intestine.

#tructure
The colon begins at the cecum where it joins the end of the small intestine (ileum). The colon
changes to rectal tissue in its last 6 inches. $ecause there is not a clear border between the colon
and rectum colon and rectal cancers are grouped together as colorectal cancer.

The colon is divided into % parts&
ascending colon ' begins at the cecum where it joins the end of the small intestine and
travels upward along the right side of the body to the transverse colon
transverse colon ' connects the ascending colon to the descending colon and lies across
the upper abdomen
descending colon ' connects the transverse colon and the sigmoid colon and lies along
the left side of the body
sigmoid colon ' connects the descending colon and the rectum


The colon and rectum are made up of a number of different tissues organi(ed into layers&
mucosa
o inner lining (epithelium) lamina propria (connective tissue) and thin layer of
muscle (muscularis mucosa)
submucosa
o connective tissue glands blood vessels lymphatic vessels and nerves
muscularis propria (muscular layer)
serosa (serous layer)
o outer lining of the colon but not the rectum


)esentery is a fold of tissue that connects organs to the body wall. *art of the colon is connected
to the abdominal wall by mesentery. The upper two-thirds of the rectum is also covered by
mesentery called the mesorectum. The mesentery is made up of fatty connective tissue that
contains the blood vessels nerves lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels that supply the colon.
+hen surgeons remove part of the colon or rectum to treat cancer in these areas they will
remove the mesentery ne!t to these organs as well. The lymph nodes within the removed
mesentery will be e!amined to see if they contain cancer.
,unction
The main functions of the colon and rectum are to absorb water and nutrients from what we eat
and to move food waste out of our body.
The colon receives partially digested food in a li-uid form from the small intestine.
$acteria (bowel flora) in the colon break down some materials into smaller parts.
The epithelium absorbs water and nutrients. It forms the remaining waste into semi-solid
material (feces or stool).
The epithelium also produces mucus at the end of the digestive tract which makes it
easier for stool to pass through the colon and rectum.
#ections of the colon tighten and rela! (peristalsis) to move the stool to the rectum.
The rectum is a holding area for the stool. +hen it is full it signals the brain to move the
bowels and push the stool from the body through the anus.
.ead more& http&//www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/colorectal/anatomy-and-
physiology/0region1bc2i!((3!4356f78