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Before learning about colorectal cancer, it is important to know where the colon and rectum are located. The colon and rectum are at the lower end of the digestive system. The colon, a muscular tube about five feet long, absorbs fluid to form solid waste. The rectum, the last six inches of the digestive system, serves as a warehouse for this waste until it is pushed out of the body.
Foodâs Journey: Physiology The colon (also called the large bowel) is an organ of the gastrointestinal tract. The job of the colon is to absorb fluids, to form stools, and to eliminate stools. The colon is a hollow tube surrounded by muscles. It measures about 5 feet long and 2.5 inches in diameter. It has a moist interior lining that protects nerves located in the colon wall. These nerves send and receive messages to the brain about the colon contents.