US Medical Term · anatomy
Colon
Colon
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Colon |
| Spanish (Español) | Colon |
| Chinese (中文) | 結腸 |
| Korean (한국어) | 결장 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Đại tràng |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Kolon |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cólon |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ลำไส้ใหญ่ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 結腸 |
What it means
The colon, also called the large intestine, is the final part of the digestive tract before waste leaves the body. It is about five feet long and wraps around the edges of the abdomen. After the small intestine absorbs nutrients, the remaining material passes into the colon, where water and electrolytes are absorbed back into the body, turning the liquid waste into formed stool. The colon has four parts: the ascending colon on the right side, the transverse colon across the top, the descending colon on the left, and the sigmoid colon at the bottom. Colorectal cancer, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome are common conditions that affect the colon.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My colonoscopy found a polyp in my colon that the doctor removed during the procedure.
Mi colonoscopia encontró un pólipo en el colon que el médico extirpó durante el procedimiento.
The doctor said the ulcerative colitis is causing inflammation throughout my colon.
El médico dijo que la colitis ulcerosa está causando inflamación en todo el colon.
I was told that colon cancer screening by colonoscopy should start at age forty-five.
Me dijeron que la detección del cáncer de colon mediante colonoscopia debe comenzar a los cuarenta y cinco años.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026