270 



ANATOMY FOR NURSES 



[Chap. XIV 



THE LARGE OR THICK INTESTINE 



The largeness of the next division of the alimentary canal is in 

 its transverse, not in its longitudinal, diameter ; for it is only about 

 five feet (1.5 m.) long, but is much wider, being two and one-half 

 inches (63 mm.) in its broadest part. It extends from the ileum 

 to the anus. Like the small intestine, it is divided into three jjarts : 

 the caecum with the vermiform appendix, colon, and rectum. 

 The caecum. — The caecum {cwcus, blind) is a large blind 



pouch at the commencement of 

 the large intestine. The small 

 intestine opens into the side 

 wall of the large intestine about 

 two and a half inches ((53 mm.) 

 above its — the large intes- 

 tine's — commencement, the 

 ca.^cum forming a cul-de-.sac be- 

 low the opening. The opening 

 from the ileum into the large 

 intestine is j^rovided with two 

 large projecting lips of mucous 

 membrane which allow the pas- 

 sage of material into the large 

 Fig. 1.57 - Cavity of the c^cdm, jntestine, but etfcctuallv pre- 



ITS Front \V ALL HAVING BEEN CUT AWAY. • 1 • 



The valve of the colon and the opening veut the paSSagC of material 111 

 of the appendix are shown. (Gerrish.) ^^^ opposite direction. Thcse 



mucous folds form what is known as the valve of the colon, or the 

 ileo-cfecal valve. 



The vermiform appendix is a narrow, wormlike tube about the 

 diameter of an ordinary lead pencil, and from three to seven 

 inches (7.5 to 17.5 cm.) long. It is attached to the lower end of 

 the caecum, but its directions and relations are very variable. In 

 a general way it may be said to be located in the right iliac fossa. 



The colon. — The colon, though one continuous tube, is sub- 

 divided into the ascending, transverse, and descending colon, 

 with the sigmoid flexure. The ascending portion ascends on the 

 right side of the abdomen until it reaches the under surface of the 

 liver, where it bends abruptly to the left (right colic or hepatic 

 flexure), and is continued across the abdomen as the transverse 



