Colon facts for kids
The colon is a part of the large intestine. It is between cecum and the rectum. The colon takes water from the feces that goes through it. The colon in mammals can be divided into four sections:
- the ascending colon
- the transverse colon
- the descending colon
- the sigmoid colon
Ascending colon
This part of the colon goes from the cecum (where the small intestine ends) up the right hand side of the abdomen.
Transverse colon
This part of the colon goes across the from the ascending colon. It goes underneath the stomach and the pancreas and joins the descending colon near the spleen.
Descending colon
This part of the intestine is about 30 cm in length. It travels down the left side of the abdomen.
Sigmoid colon
This is the small "S" shaped part of the colon, about 40 cm in length, which goes from the bottom of the descending colon into the centre of the pelvis to the rectum. It gets its name from the Greek letter "s", sigma.
