Colon - Anatomy & Physiology

BACK TO ALIMENTARY - ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY BACK TO LARGE INTESTINE - ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

Introduction

The colon can be divided into the following portions:

• Ascending
• Transverse
• Descending

Structure

The following anatomocial arrangement is found only in cats and dogs, see species differences.

• The ascending colon continues from the iluem at the ileocolic junction.
  • It runs to the right of the cranial mesenteric artery in a caudal to cranial direction.
  • At the cranial border of the mesentry it turns medially to become the transverse colon.
• The transverse colon runs from the right side of the abdomen to the left side of the abdomen.
  • Cranial to the transverse colon is the stomach, and caudal to it is the small intestine and cranial mesenteric artery.
• The descending colon continues on from the transverse colon running caudally on the left from the level of (???).
  • It then passes more medially as it enters the pelvic cavity
  • Upon entering the pelvic cavity it is continued as the rectum.