Word parts
What it means
About 1.5 meters (5 feet) of large bowel that frames the abdomen: the ascending colon on the right, the transverse colon across the top and the descending and sigmoid colon on the left. It absorbs water and salts and turns liquid waste into stool. Colon cancer is common, so screeningSKREE-ningTesting people who have no symptoms to find a disease or risk early.Full entry such as colonoscopy is advised for adults from middle age.
At a glance
| Spanish | colon |
|---|---|
| Also written | colonic |
Related terms
col/o
A word root that means colon, the large intestine.
rectum
The last part of the large intestine, between the colon and the anus, where stool is held until it leaves the body.
intestine
The long tube of the digestive tract between the stomach and the anus, made up of the small and large intestine.
stool
Solid waste passed from the bowel through the anus; also called feces.
small intestine
The long, narrow part of the bowel between the stomach and the large intestine, where most digestion and absorption happen.