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The colon is about six feet long and is the part of the body's digestive system that moves waste material from the small intestine to the rectum.
Definition of Colon
The colon absorbs water while transporting waste to the rectum. In the process, the colon may also absorb harmful materials. The longer it takes for waste to pass through the colon, the greater the chance of absorbing such materials.
Diagram of the Colon
This diagram shows where the colon is in relation to the entire large intestine.
Colon Anatomy (Cross Section)
The colon is comprised of four distinct layers: the mucosa, the submucosa, the muscularis externa (two thick bands of muscle), and the serosa.
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