Health Topics
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Overview
The colon, or large intestine, is a digestive organ located in the abdomen. The large intestine begins at the end of the small intestine and extends through the rectum and anus.
Review Date 3/31/2024
Updated by: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery Practice Specializing in Breast Cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.