“May all be happy, may all be healed, may all be at peace and may no one ever suffer."
The descending colon is the part of the large intestine that follows the transverse colon and runs vertically down the left side of the abdomen towards the rectum. It is responsible for absorbing water and electrolytes from the remaining fecal matter, as well as storing fecal matter until it is eliminated from the body through the anus during a bowel movement.
The descending colon is approximately 10-15 cm in length and has a diameter of approximately 5 cm. It is situated in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen, and is located anterior to the left kidney and posterior to the spleen.
The descending colon receives waste material from the transverse colon, and continues the process of absorbing water and electrolytes. The fecal matter then passes into the sigmoid colon, which is the last part of the large intestine before the rectum.