colon

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A long, tube-shaped organ that carries food from the small intestine to the rectum. It is very, very long. So in order to fit into your abdomen, it is folded many times. Its job is to remove water, some nutrients, and chemicals that your body needs from the digested food. The leftover solid waste (called stool or bowel movement) moves through the colon to the rectum and leaves the body through the anus.

Audio contributed by: Marisa Weiss, M.D.