Dikke darm

The large intestine surrounds the small intestine on three sides and extends from the ileocecal valve to the anus.

The large intestine starts at the cecum, an expanded pouch in the lower right abdomen. The ileocecal valve separates the ileum and cecum, controlling the flow of materials from the small to the large intestine.

A coiled tube known as the appendix is attached to the posteromedial surface of the cecum.

Moving upwards, the cecum merges with the colon, which is divided into the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid regions.

The colon ascends on the right side, forming the right colic flexure near the liver. It then continues as the transverse colon and curves down near the spleen as the left colic flexures, continuing downwards as the descending colon.

The terminal sigmoid colon concludes at the rectum, which continues as the anal canal and ends at the anus.

Guarded by the external and internal sphincters, the anus marks the end of the large intestine and the GI tract.