ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

I. LARGE INTESTINE

a. Colon
The colon (kō′lon), about 1.5–1.8 m long, consists of four parts: the ascending colon,
transverse colon, descending colon, and sigmoid colon. The ascending colon extends superiorly
from the cecum and ends at the right colic flexure (hepatic flexure) near the right inferior margin
of the liver. The transverse colon extends from the right colic flexure to the left colic flexure
(splenic flexure), and the descending colon extends from the left colic flexure to the superior
opening of the true pelvis, where it becomes the sigmoid colon. The sigmoid colon forms an S-
shaped tube that extends into the pelvis and ends at the rectum.

The muscular layer of the colon differs from the small intestine. The circular muscle
layer of the colon is complete, but the longitudinal muscle layer is incomplete. Rather than
completely enveloping the intestinal wall, the longitudinal layer forms three bands, called the
teniae coli (tē′nē-ē kō′lī). The teniae coli run the length of the colon (figure 24.26a; see figure
24.25). Contractions of the teniae coli cause pouches called haustra (haw′stră; to draw up) to
form along the length of the colon, giving it a puckered appearance. Small, lipid-filled
connective tissue pouches called omental appendages are attached to the outer surface of the
colon along its length.
The mucosal lining of the large intestine consists of simple columnar epithelium. This
epithelium is not formed into folds or villi like that of the small intestine but has numerous,
straight, tubular glands called crypts. The crypts, which are somewhat similar to the intestinal
glands of the small intestine, are composed of three cell types—absorptive, goblet, and granular
cells. The major difference is that, in the large intestine, goblet cells predominate, and the other
two cell types are greatly reduced in number.

b. Rectum
The rectum is a straight, muscular tube that begins at the distal end of the sigmoid colon and
ends at the anal canal. The mucosal lining of the rectum is simple columnar epithelium, and the
muscular tunic is relatively thick, compared with the rest of the digestive tract

c. Anal Canal
The last 2–3 cm of the digestive tract is the anal canal). It begins at the inferior end of the
rectum and ends at the anus (external digestive tract opening). The smooth muscle layer of the
anal canal is even thicker than that of the rectum and forms the internal anal sphincter at its
superior end. Skeletal muscle forms the external anal sphincter at the inferior end of the canal.
The epithelium of the superior part of the anal canal is simple columnar, and that of the inferior
part is stratified squamous. Rectal veins that supply the anal canal can become enlarged or
inflamed, a condition known as hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids cause pain, itching, and bleeding
around the anus. They can usually be treated by changes in diet or medications.