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The bowel is part of our digestive system. It is divided into two parts, the small bowel and the large bowel. The large bowel is made up of the colon and rectum.
Large bowel – colon and rectum
View a large copy of the large bowel diagram – colon and rectum|
Once food has been swallowed it passes down the gullet (oesophagus) into the stomach, where digestion begins. From here it enters the small bowel where essential nutrients are taken into the body. Any undigested food passes into the large bowel, and water is removed in the colon. The remaining waste matter, known as stools or faeces, is held in the rectum (back passage) until it is ready to be passed from the body through the anus as a bowel motion (stool).
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