The colon is an often-overlooked organ, yet it plays a vital role in our daily functioning. It is an important organ that helps with digestion by producing fluids to break down food into smaller particles called chyme, which then travels through to the small intestine for absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream, eventually passing through the rectum for elimination outside.
Knowing more about your colon can help out when it comes to identifying any warning signs or problems.
7. The Colon is 5 Feet Long
Your colon, otherwise known as your large intestine, stretches from your small intestine to your anus. The colon’s parts are: the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and sigmoid colon. The rectum and anal canal form the final two parts of the large intestine.
Your colon varies in width from the widest point, the cecum, to a narrow 3-inch section at the other end, through a series of loops and curves.