RT Book, Section
A1 Cohan, Jessica N.
A1 Varma, Madhulika G.
A2 Doherty, Gerard M.
SR Print(0)
ID 1171280882
T1 Large Intestine
T2 Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery, 15e
YR 2020
FD 2020
PB McGraw Hill LLC
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260122213
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1171280882
RD 2024/04/16
AB The  colon  begins  at  the  ileocecal  valve  and  ends  at  the  rectum,  spanning  140  cm  (5  feet)  in  length.  The  colon  has  both  intraperitoneal  and  retroperitoneal  components.  The  cecum  and  ascending  and  descending  colon  are  retroperitoneal,  whereas  the  transverse  colon  and  sigmoid  are  intraperitoneal  (Figure  32–1).  The  diameter  of  the  lumen  is  greatest  at  the  cecum  (approximately  7  cm)  and  decreases  distally.  As  a  result,  mass  lesions  of  the  cecum  are  least  likely  to  cause  obstruction.  However,  the  wall  of  the  colon  is  thinnest  in  the  cecum;  therefore,  it  is  most  vulnerable  to  ischemic  necrosis  and  perforation  from  large  bowel  obstructions.