The colon is an important part of the digestive system that serves to extract water from stool. It is part of the large intestine and is located between the cecum and the rectum and consists of ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid. From the cecum to the transverse half is called the right portion, while the rest is known as the left portion.

The ascending part is 12.5 cm long, retroperitoneal in structure, and located on the right side of the abdomen. The transverse part rises from the hepatic flexure to the splenic flexure and tends to hang from the stomach. It is here attached to a broad band of tissue, the one with the greatest momentum. The transverse colon is the only movable part of the large intestine as it is enclosed in the peritoneum.

The splenic flexure to the beginning of the sigmoid intestine is called the descending colon. It is retroperitoneal in most humans, while in some it has a short mesentery. The part of the large intestine before the rectum and after the descending portion is called the sigmoid colon, which is also due to its S-shape. Its walls are muscular and tend to contract to increase pressure in the large intestine. This in turn pushes stool into the rectum.

Sometimes intermittent high pressure within the intestine develops pockets called diverticula in its walls. The presence of safe and harmful diverticula is called diverticulosis and its infection called diverticulitis. The best way to examine the sigmoid portion is with a diagnostic technique called sigmoidoscopy.

The large intestine comes after the small intestine and is responsible for storing waste, maintaining water balance in the body, replenishing water, and absorbing vitamins such as vitamin K. When the chemo reaches this tube, most of the nutrients in the food and 90% of the water is absorbed by the body. It is at this point that electrolytes such as sodium, magnesium, chloride and indigestible carbohydrates such as dietary fiber remain.

Once the chyme moves through the large intestine, most of the water present in the chyme is removed. When this chyme mixes with mucus and bacteria, intestinal flora is found which in turn becomes feces. It is the work of bacteria that breaks down fiber for nutrition, where waste products such as acetate, butyrate, and propionate are created. These waste products are in turn used by the cell lining of the colon for nutrition.

So it can be seen that the colon is in charge of three important functions in the body. It is responsible for the concentration of fecal effluents with water and electrolyte absorption, aids in the storage and evacuation of fecal matter, and aids in the digestion and absorption of undigested food. The colon is generally not necessary for survival; it’s just that their functions contribute to the well-being of humans. The right portion (ascending and cecum) is responsible for the absorption of water and electrolytes and the fermentation of undigested sugars, while the left portion (descending, sigmoid, and rectum) aids in the storage and evacuation of feces.

Before embarking on any detoxification of your colon, please read more about our recommended colon cleansing program.