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The colon, or large intestine, is a digestive organ located in the abdomen. The large intestine begins at the end of the small intestine and extends through the rectum and anus.
Review Date 1/1/2026
Updated by: Ann M. Rogers, MD, FACS, Professor Emeritus, Department of Surgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
