Knowra Colon Colon The colon is the large intestine’s main section, extending from the cecum to the rectum. It absorbs water and electrolytes from intestinal contents and compacts waste into feces.
Haustral contraction : A slow, segmenting contraction of the colon’s circular muscle that mixes contents and exposes them to the intestinal lining. These contractions mix contents while water and electrolytes are absorbed.
Large intestine : The digestive tract segment comprising the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal. The colon is the largest section of this broader organ system segment.
Colonoscopy : An endoscopic procedure that examines the colon and rectum using a flexible camera. It allows direct inspection of the colon’s lining and removal of some polyps.
Small intestine : The digestive tract segment between the stomach and large intestine, where most nutrient absorption occurs. Unlike the colon, it is the primary site of nutrient digestion and absorption.
Mass movement : A powerful, coordinated colonic contraction that propels contents over a long distance toward the rectum. These contractions shift fecal contents toward the rectum several times a day.
Cecum : A pouch at the junction of the small and large intestines, from which the colon begins. The ascending colon starts at the cecum.
Colorectal cancer : Cancer arising in the colon or rectum, usually developing from abnormal growths in the lining. The colon is one of the two sites included in this cancer category.
Rectum : The terminal portion of the large intestine that stores feces before defecation. It follows the colon and serves chiefly as a temporary storage chamber.
Gastrocolic reflex : An increase in colonic motility after food enters the stomach, driven by neural and hormonal signals. It helps explain why colonic contractions often increase after meals.
Ascending colon : The right-sided colon segment that travels upward from the cecum to the transverse colon. It is the first major segment after the cecum.
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