Colon. Artwork showing the human colon (large intestine). The yellow fibres represent nerves, which control the involuntary muscular movements (perist

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Colon. Artwork showing the human colon (large intestine). The yellow fibres represent nerves, which control the involuntary muscular movements (peristalsis) of the colon. The colon has no digestive function but absorbs water and electrolytes from the residue of digestion. It consists of 4 sections: the ascending (left), transverse (top), descending (right, cut away) and sigmoid (bottom). The sigmoid colon joins with the rectum. Three bands of longitudinal muscle, the teniae coli, run the length of the organ, from the appendix (tail-like at bottom left) to the rectum. The teniae help to form haustra, the compartment like pouches along the length of the colon.

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Size: 3441px × 4198px
Photo credit: © JOHN BAVOSI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anatomy, appendix, artwork, body, colon, digestive, gut, human, illustration, innervation, intestine, large, nerve, nerves, peristalsis, system