The Colon

Question 1

what is the colon

Answer 1

the distal part of the GI tract that extends away from the caecum to the anal canal

Question 2

what does the colon do

Answer 2

received digested food from the small intestine which absorbs water and electrolytes to form faeces

Question 3

what are the paracolic gutters

Answer 3

two spaces between the ascending and descending colon and the posterolateral abdominal wall

Question 4

why are the paracolic gutters clinically important

Answer 4

they allow material that has been released from infected abdominal organs to accumulate elsewhere in the abdomen

Question 5

what are omental appendices

Answer 5

small pouches of peritoneum that are filled with fat

Question 6

what is the function of teniae coli

Answer 6

contract to shorten the all of the bowel and produce sacculations known as haustra

Question 7

which sections of the colon are derived from the midgut

Answer 7

ascending colon and proximal two thirds of transverse

Question 8

which sections of the colon are derived from the hindgut

Answer 8

the distal third, descending and sigmoid colon

Question 9

describe the vasculature of the ascending colon

Answer 9

arterial supply from the two branches of the superior mesenteric artery

Question 10

which branches of the superior mesenteric artery supply the ascending colon

Answer 10

ileocolic and right colic arteries

Question 11

what are the branches of the ileocolic artery

Answer 11

colic, anterior caecal and posterial cecal branches

Question 12

what is the transverse colon derived from

Answer 12

the midgut and hindgut

Question 13

what is the transverse colon supplied with

Answer 13

branches of the superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery

Question 14

which branch does the right colic artery come from

Answer 14

the superior mesenteric artery

Question 15

which branch does the middle colic artery come from

Answer 15

the superior mesenteric artery

Question 16

which branch does the left colic artery come from

Answer 16

the inferior mesenteric artery

Question 17

what supplies the descending colon

Answer 17

a single branch of the inferior mesenteric artery and the left colic artery

Question 18

what does the sigmoid colon receive its blood supply from

Answer 18

sigmoid arteries which are branches of the inferior mesenteric artery

Question 19

what are the sigmoid arteries branches of

Answer 19

the inferior mesenteric artery

Question 20

describe the venous drainage of the ascending colon

Answer 20

ileocolic and right colic veins which empty into the superior mesenteric vein

Question 21

describe the venous drainage of the transverse colon

Answer 21

middle colic vein, which empties into the superior mesenteric vein

Question 22

describe the venous draining system of the descending colon

Answer 22

left colic vein which drains into the inferior mesenteric vein

Question 23

what drains the sigmoid artery

Answer 23

sigmoid veins into the inferior mesenteric vein

Question 24

describe the innervation of the ascending colon

Answer 24

sympathetic, parasympathetic and sensory via nerves from the superior mesenteric plexus

Question 25

describe the innervation of the proximal two thirds of the transverse colon

Answer 25

sympathetic, parasympathetic and sensory supply via nerves from the superior mesenteric plexus

Question 26

describe the innervation of the distal third, descending and sigmoid colon

Answer 26

sympathetic, parasympathetic and sensory supply via nerves from the inferior mesenteric plexus

Question 27

what is responsible for the parasympathetic innervation of the descending and sigmoid

Answer 27

pelvic splanchnic nerves

Question 28

what is responsible for the sympathetic innervation of the descending and sigmoid colon

Answer 28

lumbar splanchnic nerves