Transverse colon

Transverse colon
Drawing of colon seen from front (transverse colon coloured blue)
Front of abdomen, showing surface markings for liver, stomach and large intestine
Details
Latin	Colon transversum
Artery	Middle colic artery
Vein	Middle colic vein
Precursor	Midgut (first 2/3) Hindgut (last 1/3)
Identifiers
Gray's	p.1180
Dorlands /Elsevier	c_47/14169300
Anatomical terminology

The transverse colon is the longest and most movable part of the colon. It crosses the abdomen from the ascending colon at the hepatic or right colic flexure with a downward convexity to the descending colon where it curves sharply on itself beneath the lower end of the spleen forming the splenic or left colic flexure. In its course, it describes an arch, the concavity of which is directed backward and a little upward. Toward its splenic end there is often an abrupt U-shaped curve which may descend lower than the main curve.

It is almost completely invested by peritoneum, and is connected to the inferior border of the pancreas by a large and wide duplicature of that membrane, the transverse mesocolon.

It is in relation, by its upper surface, with the liver and gall-bladder, the greater curvature of the stomach, and the lower end of the spleen; by its under surface, with the small intestine; by its anterior surface, with the anterior layers of the greater omentum and the abdominal wall; its posterior surface is in relation from right to left with the descending portion of the duodenum, the head of the pancreas, and some of the convolutions of the jejunum and ileum.

The transverse colon absorbs water and salts.

1 Additional images
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

Additional images

1: Ascending colon
2: Transverse colon
3: Descending colon
4: Sigmoid colon
5: Rectum
Intestines
Schematic figure of the bursa omentalis, etc. Human embryo of eight weeks
Front view of the thoracic and abdominal viscera
Digestive system
Transverse colon

References

This article incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy.

External links

Transverse+colon at eMedicine Dictionary
Anatomy figure: 37:06-03 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The large intestine."

Anatomy of torso, digestive system: Gastrointestinal tract, excluding mouth (TA A05.3–7, TH H3.04.02-04, GA 11.1141)

Upper GI

Hypo-pharynx	Piriform sinus spaces: Peripharyngeal space Retropharyngeal space Parapharyngeal space Retrovisceral space Retropharyngeal space Danger space Prevertebral space Pterygomandibular raphe Pharyngeal raphe Buccopharyngeal fascia Pharyngobasilar fascia Pharyngeal muscles

Esophagus	UES LES Esophageal glands Serosa / Adventitia Muscular layer Submucosa Mucosa Muscularis mucosa

Stomach	by region: Greater curvature Lesser curvature Angular incisure Cardia Body Fundus Pylorus antrum canal sphincter by layer: Serosa Muscular layer Submucosa Gastric mucosa Muscularis mucosa Gastric rugae Gastric pits Gastric gland Cardiac glands Fundic glands Pyloric glands Goblet cell

Lower GI

Intestine: small

Layers	Serosa Subserosa Muscular layer Circular folds Submucosa Mucosa Muscularis mucosa Peyer's patches Intestinal villus Intestinal gland

Duodenum	Suspensory muscle Major duodenal papilla Minor duodenal papilla Duodenal cap Duodenojejunal flexure Brunner's glands

Jejunum	no substructures

Ileum	Terminal ileum Ileocecal valve

Intestine: large

Layers	Serosa Subserosa Muscular layer Submucosa Mucosa

Cecum	Vermiform appendix

Colon	ascending colon hepatic flexure transverse colon splenic flexure descending colon sigmoid colon continuous taenia coli haustra epiploic appendix

Rectum	Transverse folds of rectum Rectal ampulla

Anal canal	Anal columns Anal valves Anal sinuses Pectinate line Sphincter ani internus muscle Intersphincteric groove Sphincter ani externus muscle Anus

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Transverse colon