Anatomy of the Lower Digestive Tract

The lower digestive tract consists of the large intestine, also known as the colon, and the rectum. The colon is responsible for the absorption of water and electrolytes from undigested food matter, which is then eliminated as feces. The rectum is the final part of the colon, where stool is stored before being eliminated through the anus.

The colon can be divided into several segments, including the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum. The cecum is the beginning of the colon, where the small intestine joins the large intestine. The ascending colon travels up the right side of the abdomen, while the transverse colon extends across the upper abdomen from right to left. The descending colon travels down the left side of the abdomen, and the sigmoid colon is an S-shaped section that connects the descending colon to the rectum.