Descending Colon

Descending Colon - located on the left side of the body after the transverse colon and before the sigmoid colon. It passed along the border of the left kidney. On the lower end, the descending colon turns into the Sigmoid colon.

The Transverse Colon is the number three in the diagram below

Parts of the Colon

The descending colon is very close to the bottom of the Digestive Tract and is one of the parts of the colon. Here are all the parts of the colon:

• Cecum
  • Appendix
• Ascending colon
• Transverse colon
• Descending colon
• Sigmoid colon

Colon and Digestion

Since the colon is the last place the body can extract nutrients from the food that was once eaten, the body has adapted for the colon to be very good at extracting as much of the remaining nutrients from the food as possible. That is not to say that all the nutrients from the food are extracted. In fact, about 20-30% of the original nutrients in foods we eat are often found in feces. But nevertheless, the colon uses the nutrients it extracts from the food for nourishment of many of the cells that live along the colon and help get the food through.

Eating foods rich in dietary fiber is also very important for long-term health of the colon. Fiber helps keep the walls of the colon healthy and helps absorb more of the nutrients from the foods that are still left in the colon. It is simple. If you eat more fiber, you will have a healthier colon, and if you do not, your cells in the colon will not be as healthy, which over the period of a lifetime will put you at an increased risk of developing various colon problems. Additionally, keep in mind that there are a few types of dietary fiber. You should educate yourself on the roles of different types of dietary fiber and their effects on the descending colon, and the colon overall.

Colon and Defecation

In general, it is advised that people keep an eye on their stools during defecation because it can show early signs of problems. Signs like unusual colors, shapes, or consistency can all be indicative or imbalances that may be going on in the body.