Definition: An organ in the digestive system that processes waste. The colon is a 5 foot long, hollow tube that runs between the small intestine and the rectum. The colon absorbs water from stool, making the stool into a solid before it is passed out of the body as a bowel movement.
Some disorders that can affect the colon include Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis, and colon cancer.
Pronunciation: COH-luhn
Also Known As: Large Intestine, Bowel
