Picture of Colon

The colon is the largest part of the large intestine, extending from the cecum to the rectum. It is 5 feet long and its function is to reabsorb water from digested food and concentrate solid waste material, known as stool. The colon is made of several sections. The ascending colon travels up the right side of the abdomen. The part that sits across the abdomen is called the transverse colon. The descending colon runs down the left side of the abdomen. The next segment, the sigmoid colon, joins the descending colon to the rectum. Stool leaves the body through an opening called the anus.