Skip to content
EntityQ677253· pop 31· linked from 191 articles

sigmoid colon

Sign in to save

Also known as pelvic colon, colon, sigmoid

part of the large intestine that is closest to the rectum and anus

Key facts

Precursor
Hindgut
Part of
Large intestine
System
Digestive system
Artery
Sigmoid branches of inferior mesenteric artery , sigmoid arteries , internal iliac artery
Nerve
Inferior mesenteric ganglia and sacral nerve
Latin
colon sigmoideum
Mesh
D012809
Ta98
A05.7.03.007

via Wikipedia infobox

~3 min read

Encyclopedic overview

The sigmoid colon (or pelvic colon) is the part of the large intestine that is closest to the rectum and anus. It forms a loop that averages about 35–40 centimetres (14–16 in) in length. The loop is typically shaped like a Greek letter sigma (ς) or Latin letter S (thus sigma + -oid). This part of the colon normally lies within the pelvis, but due to its freedom of movement it is liable to be displaced into the abdominal cavity.

Structure

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “sigmoid colon” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.