Large intestine
Learning objectives
By completing this study unit, you will be able to:
- Name the main segments of the large intestine.
- Identify the anatomical features that distinguish the large intestine from the remaining gastrointestinal tract.
- Describe the neurovasculature and lymphatic drainage of the large intestine.
Watch videos
The large intestine is the final part of the gastrointestinal tract. It is responsible for the absorption of water and electrolytes, and converting indigestible matter to feces, which is stored temporarily until defecation. The large intestine begins at the ileocaecal junction and is made up of the cecum, vermiform appendix, colon, rectum and anal canal. The colon is the longest part of the large intestine, subdivided into four main segments: the ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colon. All parts of the large intestine are retroperitoneal, with the exception of the transverse and sigmoid colon, which are intraperitoneal organs.
The large intestine can be distinguished from the remaining segments of the gastrointestinal tract by three anatomical features: omental appendices (epiploic appendages), teniae coli and haustra coli.
Check out the following video to learn more about these structures as well as the anatomical relations and neurovasculature of the large intestine:
Take a quiz
Are you ready to check how much you’ve learnt so far? Test yourself with the quiz below!
If you’re looking for a further challenge, why not take the following quiz, which you can also customize to focus on specific topics!
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/424/Xzp9JjY9J41UO3dz9uTA_structure-of-large-intestine_english.jpg){kind=logo}
Take the time to revise all of the most important structures, by looking through the atlas gallery below.
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/pars-terminalis-ilei/1faPx7pItRHt0POV3YbJw_Pars_terminalis_ilei_01.png "Terminal part of ileum (Pars terminalis ilei); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/papilla-ilealis/VHLZgzCbnxYughNgoBzGA_Papilla_ilealis_01.png "Ileal papilla (Papilla ilealis); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/caecum-2/ffi5vhdn126qjQZQ8KNSQ_Caecum_01.png "Cecum (Caecum); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/appendix-vermiformis/3PjLVbUbBdJIBxJ7RPauZA_Appendix_vermiformis_01.png "Vermiform appendix (Appendix vermiformis); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/colon-ascendens-3/AZjXiRc9JmqBSAKDS6Dg_Colon_ascendens_01.png "Ascending colon (Colon ascendens); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/flexura-coli-dextra-3/kK958iuwCqqXqLBBEp7VOA_Flexura_coli_dextra_magnified.png "Right colic flexure (Flexura dextra coli); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/colon-transversum-5/1xu1I5VlgsridMEaOTwSog_Colon_transversum_01.png "Transverse colon (Colon transversum); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/left-colic-flexure-4/5pFih0EVQUqGl0wi1vd62g_Flexura_coli_sinistra_magnified.png "Left colic flexure (Flexura sinistra coli); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/colon-descendens-3/B4tzDtmfCnfwB5FEHV85Bg_Colon_descendens_01.png "Descending colon (Colon descendens); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/colon-sigmoideum-4/ApQo3l7ArEm5RyhtAm0g_Colon_sigmoideum_01.png "Sigmoid colon (Colon sigmoideum); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/rectum-5/9yvCfrDejWP1kXWVK4dNRw_Rectum_01.png "Rectum; Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/anal-canal-2/ZUczD8ZBYF5iZBA55WYsA_Anal_canal_magni.png "Anal canal (Canalis analis); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/appendices-epiploicae/7vbVeGFcpuaVeyhJiaJ9XQ_Appendices_epiploicae_01.png "Omental appendices (Appendices omentales); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/taenia-libera/fCept51rNTUbKnLJ2ELmUg_Taenia_libera_01.png "Free tenia (Taenia libera); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/taenia-mesocolica/JibXKX8HAL825mBSGZiMg_Taenia_mesocolica_01.png "Mesocolic tenia (Taenia mesocolica); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/taenia-omentalis/ZFqbxPZJ88j9aYcbHVFpkg_Taenia_omentalis_01.png "Omental tenia (Taenia omentalis); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/haustra-coli/XLqnWFeO9PclG3ghr0PtvQ_Haustrae_coli_01.png "Haustra of colon (Haustra coli); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/plicae-semilunaris/qPcnBwtxdrU5SrKlNahg_Plicae_semilunaris_01.png "Semilunar folds of colon (Plicae semilunares coli); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/mesocolon-transversum-3/2GPLKynJdfQLc11e8ROkg_Mescolon_transversum_01.png "Transverse mesocolon (Mesocolon transversum); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/omentum-majus-4/9MvErzYOv6pLE0ZoyZCSyA_Omentum_majus_cut_01.png "Greater omentum (Omentum majus); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/mesenterium-3/j4st4oJAuSGh3BlviIyGTg_Mesenterium_01.png "Mesentery (Mesenterium); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/mesoappendix/7c6sAmY7zKhhLSaxkUDFEA_Mesoappendix_01.png "Mesoappendix; Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/mesocolon-sigmoideum-4/bcqfxQ6k3g4FpdAqCF3Q_Mescolon_sigmoideum_01.png "Sigmoid mesocolon (Mesocolon sigmoideum); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Cecum |
Location: Intraperitoneal Blood supply: Ileocolic artery Innervation: Superior mesenteric plexus Lymphatic drainage: Ileocolic lymph nodes |
| Vermiform appendix |
Location: Intraperitoneal (or in the pelvic cavity) Mesentery: Mesoappendix Blood supply: Appendicular arteries Innervation: Superior mesenteric plexus (sympathetic), vagus nerve (parasympathetic) Lymphatic drainage: Ileocolic lymph nodes |
| Ascending colon |
Location: Retroperitoneal Blood supply: Ileocolic and right colic arteries Innervation: Superior mesenteric plexus Lymphatic drainage: Epicolic and paracolic lymph nodes |
| Transverse colon |
Location: Intraperitoneal Mesentery: Transverse mesocolon Blood supply: Right, middle and left colic arteries Innervation: Superior and inferior mesenteric plexuses Lymphatic drainage: Middle colic lymph nodes |
| Descending colon |
Location: Retroperitoneal Blood supply: Left colic and superior sigmoid arteries Innervation: Superior hypogastric plexus (sympathetic), pelvic splanchnic nerves (parasympathetic) Lymphatic drainage: Left colic lymph nodes |
| Sigmoid colon |
Location: Intraperitoneal Mesentery: Sigmoid mesocolon Blood supply: Left colic and superior sigmoid arteries Innervation: Superior hypogastric plexus (sympathetic), pelvic splanchnic nerves (parasympathetic) Lymphatic drainage: Paracolic and epicolic lymph nodes |
| Rectum |
Location: Intraperitoneal (superior segment) and retroperitoneal (inferior segment) Blood supply: [Ano]rectal arteries Innervation: Superior and inferior hypogastric plexuses Lymphatic drainage: Pararectal and epirectal lymph nodes |
| Anal canal |
Location: Pelvic cavity (extraperitoneal) Blood supply: Anorectal arteries Innervation: Superior and inferior hypogastric plexuses Lymphatic drainage: Pararectal and epirectal lymph nodes |
Well done!
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