Health Topics
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
- Go to slide 1 out of 5
- Go to slide 2 out of 5
- Go to slide 3 out of 5
- Go to slide 4 out of 5
- Go to slide 5 out of 5
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 4/1/2025
Updated by: Warren Brenner, MD, Oncologist, Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.