Ascending colon

The zona columnaris takes up the upper half of the anal canal and is lined with the
same tissue as the small intestine, stomach and large intestine, whereas the lower
half of the canal contains the zona hemorrhagica and zona cutanea. Both lower
parts contain different tissues than the zona columnaris, including tissue typically
seen in more exposed skin, such as the lips
It surrounds the lower half of the canal and has two aspects: an inner sphincter and
an outer sphincter. The inner sphincter, the part close to the large intestine, is
involuntary and cant be consciously controlled, and the outer sphincter is
voluntary, meaning it can be willfully opened or closed. A sphincter can both hold
feces in or let it out through the anus.
Disorders of the ascending colon include polyps. This is a fleshy growth that can
protrude from the lining of the colon. These polyps can become larger and lead to
colon cancer if they are not treated. Doctors recommend that everyone over the
age of 50 receive a colonoscopy every three to five years to check for and remove
any existing polyps.

During a colonoscopy, the doctor will insert a flexible instrument called a

colonoscope into the rectum and advance it through the length of the colon. This
colonoscope has a small camera and light attached to it to enable the doctor to
visualize the lining of the colon. It also has extra ports attached through which the
doctor can pass any surgical instruments needed to remove tissue for biopsy or to
remove polyps.

Some individuals will develop an ascending colon mass. This type of mass is almost
always colon cancer. The individual with a mass in this location may not have any
symptoms until the cancer is advanced. This is because a mass in the ascending
colon is less likely to cause obstruction because the fecal matter in this section of
the colon is mainly liquid.

It is important to maintain a healthy digestive system to avoid any complications

such as polyps or colon cancer. The best way to do this is to eat plenty of fruits and
vegetables. Water is essential to a healthy colon because it helps to keep the stool
soft and promotes bowel movements. Regular exercise will also help the colon stay
healthy by promoting the elimination of waste. A proper functioning colon is
important to a healthy body.

Some species actually have two, making up for a lack of colon with a double cecum.
In animals which eat plant products, the structure contains a wealth of bacteria to
help break the plants down, while carnivores tend to have smaller ones, and
sometimes the structure is almost wholly absent. As a general rule, the diameter is
usually larger than that of the attached large intestine.

The appendix dangles from the bottom of the cecum, sort of like a protruding finger.
In people who experience appendicitis, a rigid, hot sensation can be felt in the lower
right abdomen, indicating the presence of inflammation. During surgery to remove
the appendix, a doctor will also examine the cecum for signs of inflammation or
perforation.

Like other parts of the intestinal tract, the cecum can become cancerous if cells
start to divide out of control. Cancer in this body part is rare, and it can be treated
with a variety of measures, depending on how far advanced it is. This structure can
also be damaged by abdominal trauma, bowel obstructions, or accidents in surgery,
leading to bruising or perforation, which can cause a patient to go into shock or
experience a severe infection.
Appendix
In addition to becoming infected, the appendix can also sometimes become
cancerous. Removal of the appendix appears to have no ill affect on patients,
leading doctors to surmise that this organ has no function. Some people have
suggested that the vermiform appendix may have once been larger, and used to
help humans digest leaves and other roughage. This theory is supported by the
presence of similar organs in animals like koalas, who eat a great deal of roughage
routinely.

Inspections of the appendix have revealed that it is unusually high in lymph cells.
This discovery has led some doctors to suggest that the vermiform appendix may
actually play a role in the immune system. It may serve as a reservoir for immune
cells, boosting the immune system when the body is having difficulty fighting off
disease and infection. The fact that people don't seem to suffer without an appendix
makes it difficult to prove this theory.

Doctors can also use the vermiform appendix in reconstructions of other organs,
such as the bladder. This is why the appendix is now left in unless it becomes

infected, under the argument that it could be useful as a spare part in the event
that its host develops a medical problem.

While the vermiform appendix is famous, it is far from the only vestigial body part.
Humans have a structure in their skulls called the vomeronasal organ or Jacobson's
organ which appears to have no current function, although this organ is used in
numerous other mammals. Intriguingly, both the vermiform appendix and
vomeronasal organ appear to be active during fetal development, suggesting that
these organs may be performing some sort of function while humans are in the
womb. Some adolescents also develop wisdom teeth, also known as mandibular
third molars, another legacy of earlier humans.
Ileum
It is held in the abdominal cavity by a membrane called the mesentery, and receives blood supply
from the superior mesenteric artery and the arterial branches.

The ileal wall is composed of smooth muscle, has a few folds in it, and typically is
thinner than the wall of the jejunum. Its wall is lined with projecting structures called
the villi and microvilli. The villi help take up nutrients that become available through
the digestive process, and conduct them to the bloodstream and the liver. Peyers
patches, which are bundles of lymphatic cells are located in the ileal lining. These
cells may be involved in bodys immune mechanisms.

The unabsorbed remains from the digestive process pass on from the ileum to the
large intestine. The content moves forward through slow muscular contractions or
peristalsis. The ileocecal valve which links the small and large intestine keeps the
undigested content from flowing back.

Certain disorders such as Crohns disease may affect the functioning of this part of
the small intestine. Individuals afflicted with this condition could develop
inflammation in the ileum. The condition may cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and
weight loss. One could develop a vitamin deficiency as the absorption of vitamin
B12 in the small intestine is affected.

If the ileum is considerably damaged, the patient may be recommended for surgery
to remove the diseased portion. One of the problems that could arise from this
surgery is that reabsorption of bile acids in the small intestine is impaired. As a
result, the patient may suffer from diarrhea.