What are the four main parts of the colon and their approximate lengths?

The colon has four main parts: ascending colon (~12.5 cm), transverse colon (~45 cm), descending colon (~25 cm), and sigmoid colon (~37.5 cm).

What are the key anatomical features of the transverse colon?

The transverse colon is the longest and most mobile segment, suspended by the transverse mesocolon, and lies between the hepatic and splenic flexures with relations to the greater omentum, duodenum, and pancreas.

How is the colon supplied with blood?

Blood supply to the colon is from the superior mesenteric artery (giving ileocolic, right colic, middle colic branches) and inferior mesenteric artery (giving left colic, sigmoidal, superior rectal branches), linked by the marginal artery of Drummond.

What are teniae coli and haustra in the colon?

Teniae coli are three longitudinal muscle bands that converge at the appendix base and spread at the rectum, while haustra are sacculations formed due to the shorter length of the teniae.

What clinical conditions are associated with the colon?

Clinical conditions include carcinoma (spreading via lymph and portal system), diverticulosis (mucosal outpouchings, common in the sigmoid), and volvulus (twisting of the sigmoid colon leading to obstruction).

What is the structure of the colon wall?

The colon wall has mucosa (no villi, rich in goblet cells), submucosa (with vessels and Meissner’s plexus), muscular layer (inner circular and outer longitudinal forming teniae coli), and serosa (covering transverse and sigmoid colon).

How does lymphatic drainage work in the colon?

Lymphatic drainage involves epiploic nodes on the colon wall, paracolic nodes along the border, intermediate nodes along colic arteries, and preterminal nodes along the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries.

Colon Anatomy – Ascending, Transverse, Descending, Sigmoid

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