Transverse colon: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:42, 10 February 2025

Part of the large intestine

The transverse colon is the longest and most movable part of the large intestine. It crosses the abdomen from the right colic flexure to the left colic flexure.

Anatomy

The transverse colon is a continuation of the ascending colon and extends from the right colic flexure, also known as the hepatic flexure, to the left colic flexure, or splenic flexure. It is suspended by the transverse mesocolon, which allows it to be quite mobile. The transverse colon is located anterior to the small intestine and is bordered superiorly by the stomach and liver.

Blood Supply

The blood supply to the transverse colon is primarily from the middle colic artery, a branch of the superior mesenteric artery. The inferior mesenteric artery also contributes via the left colic artery.

Innervation

The transverse colon receives its nerve supply from the autonomic nervous system. The vagus nerve provides parasympathetic innervation, while sympathetic innervation is supplied by the superior mesenteric plexus.

Function

The primary function of the transverse colon is to absorb water and salts from the material that has not been digested as food, and to store waste products until they are ready to be eliminated from the body. It plays a crucial role in the process of digestion and the formation of feces.

Clinical Significance

The transverse colon can be involved in various medical conditions, such as colitis, colon cancer, and volvulus. It is also a common site for the accumulation of gas and can be affected by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Related pages

Gallery

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Diagram of the transverse colon
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Anatomical illustration of the large intestine
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Schematic of the large intestine
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Diameters of the large intestine
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Illustration of the intestines
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Anatomy of the digestive system
The colon and its parts

The colon and its parts
Diagram of the digestive system

Diagram of the digestive system
Image of the transverse colon

Image of the transverse colon

References

Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F., & Agur, A. M. R. (2013). Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Standring, S. (2015). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.

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-'''Transverse colon'''
+{{Short description|Part of the large intestine}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
-The '''[[Transverse colon]]''' is the longest and most movable part of the [[colon (anatomy)|colon]], passing with a downward convexity from the right [[hypochondriac region]] to the left, where it curves sharply on itself beneath the [[spleen]], forming the [[splenic flexure]] or left colic flexure.
+The '''transverse colon''' is the longest and most movable part of the [[large intestine]]. It crosses the abdomen from the [[right colic flexure]] to the [[left colic flexure]].
 ==Anatomy==
+The transverse colon is a continuation of the [[ascending colon]] and extends from the right colic flexure, also known as the hepatic flexure, to the left colic flexure, or splenic flexure. It is suspended by the [[transverse mesocolon]], which allows it to be quite mobile. The transverse colon is located anterior to the [[small intestine]] and is bordered superiorly by the [[stomach]] and [[liver]].
-The transverse colon hangs off the [[stomach]], attached to it by a wide band of tissue called the [[greater omentum]]. On the posterior side, the transverse colon is connected to the posterior abdominal wall by a mesentery known as the [[transverse mesocolon]].
+===Blood Supply===
+The blood supply to the transverse colon is primarily from the [[middle colic artery]], a branch of the [[superior mesenteric artery]]. The [[inferior mesenteric artery]] also contributes via the left colic artery.
-The transverse colon is encased in peritoneum, and is therefore mobile (unlike the [[retroperitoneal]] ascending and descending colon).
+===Innervation===
+The transverse colon receives its nerve supply from the [[autonomic nervous system]]. The [[vagus nerve]] provides parasympathetic innervation, while sympathetic innervation is supplied by the [[superior mesenteric plexus]].
 ==Function==
+The primary function of the transverse colon is to absorb water and salts from the material that has not been digested as food, and to store waste products until they are ready to be eliminated from the body. It plays a crucial role in the process of [[digestion]] and the formation of [[feces]].
-The main function of the transverse colon is to extract water and nutrients from indigestible food matter, and to process waste material in preparation for its elimination from the body.
+==Clinical Significance==
+The transverse colon can be involved in various medical conditions, such as [[colitis]], [[colon cancer]], and [[volvulus]]. It is also a common site for the accumulation of [[gas]] and can be affected by [[irritable bowel syndrome]] (IBS).
-==Clinical significance==
+==Related pages==
+* [[Large intestine]]
+* [[Digestive system]]
+* [[Colon (anatomy)]]
-Diseases of the colon that specifically affect the transverse colon are relatively rare, but can include [[colorectal cancer]], [[diverticulosis]], and [[inflammatory bowel disease]] such as [[ulcerative colitis]] or [[Crohn's disease]].
+==Gallery==
+<gallery>
-==See also==
+File:ColonTrasverso.png|Diagram of the transverse colon
+File:Gray1223.png|Anatomical illustration of the large intestine
-* [[Ascending colon]]
+File:Dickdarm-Schema.svg|Schematic of the large intestine
-* [[Descending colon]]
+File:Diameters_of_the_large_intestine.svg|Diameters of the large intestine
-* [[Sigmoid colon]]
+File:Illu_intestine.jpg|Illustration of the intestines
-* [[Cecum]]
+File:Gray989.png|Anatomy of the digestive system
-* [[Appendix (anatomy)|Appendix]]
+File:Gray1034.png|The colon and its parts
+File:Digestive_system_diagram_en.svg|Diagram of the digestive system
+File:Transverse_colon.jpg|Image of the transverse colon
+</gallery>
 ==References==
+* Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F., & Agur, A. M. R. (2013). ''Clinically Oriented Anatomy''. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
-<references />
+* Standring, S. (2015). ''Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice''. Elsevier Health Sciences.
 [[Category:Digestive system]]
-[[Category:Abdomen]]
+[[Category:Large intestine]]
-[[Category:Colon (anatomy)]]
-{{Digestive system}}
-{{Anatomy-stub}}