NAME: MARIA NASIM

CLASS: 3RD YEAR (5TH SEMESTER)

SEAT NO: EH1924041
ENROLL NO: SCI/PHS/EP-5401/2019
DEPARTMENT: PHYSIOLOGY
GIT ASSIGNMENT(Contractions of the
descending and sigmoid colon)
INTRODUCTION
 DESCENDING COLON: It curves beneath the inferior end of the
spleen on the left side as the left colic (splenic) flexure and pass
inferiorly to the level of the iliac crest as the descending colon.
This passes down the left side of the abdominal cavity.
Descending colon are retroperitoneal.
 SIGMOID COLON: The sigmoid colon is a short curving of the
colon, just before the rectum. It is S-shaped and hence its name,

sigmoid colon.
CONTRACTIONS OF THE DESCENDING AND SIGMOID COLON
By the time material reaches the descending and sigmoid colon, it has
changed from a liquid to a semisolid state. Although there is less
absorption of water and electrolytes from these portions of the colon,
motility studies have demonstrated that contractions of the segmenting
type are more frequent here than in the ascending and transverse
colon. These segmenting contractions do not result in propulsion. On
the contrary, they offer resistance and thus retard the flow of contents
from more proximal regions into the rectum. Propulsion into and
through these areas also occurs during mass movements. Here, too,
there is a loss of segmental activity and the haustrations that precede
transport. Thus material that enters these regions during a mass
movement is acted on to reduce its liquid content further and is then
propelled into the the rectum during a subsequent mass movement.

APPLIED ANATOMY OF DESCENDING COLON:

 The loaded (With feces) descending colon may compress the
left testicular and common iliac veins.
 This is one of the predisposing factors for greater frequency of
varicosity of veins forming pampiniform plexus in the left
spermatic cord (varicocele) and veins draining the left lower
limb (varicose).
MOVEMENT IN COLON CAN BE DIVIDED INTO:
 MIXING MOVEMENTS: “HAUSTRATIONS”. (Large circular
contractions and longitudinal movements occurring in large
intestine.)
 PROPULSION MOVEMENT: “MASS MOVEMENTS”.
PRINCIPLE FUNCTION OF COLON:
1. Absorption.
2. Storage.
Proximal half of colon: Absorption
Distal half of colon: storage.