Photograph of specimen hardened _in situ_.
]
The =large intestine= is about 15 feet (ca. 4 to 5 meters) in length,
and is for the most part much wider than the small intestine; it is
connected by a mesentery with the dorsal abdominal wall between the
kidneys. The =cæcum= is cylindrical, about 8 to 12 inches (ca. 20 to 30
cm.) long, and 3 to 4 inches (ca. 8 to 10 cm.) wide. It lies against the
upper part of the right flank, its blind end reaching to within about
two inches (ca. 5 cm.) of the pelvic inlet. The ileum joins the cæcum
obliquely and projects somewhat into its lumen. The =colon= has at first
about the same caliber as the cæcum, but becomes gradually smaller. Most
of it is arranged in three close, double spiral coils in the mesentery,
in relation chiefly to the right flank externally, and to the small
intestine behind and to the left. On emerging from this spiral
labyrinth, it passes forward to the stomach and pancreas and then turns
backward; this terminal part is narrow, median in position, and closely
attached by a short mesentery to the sublumbar region. The =rectum= is
usually surrounded by a quantity of fat. The cæcum has three
longitudinal muscular bands and three rows of sacculations, which are
continued a short distance on the colon. The spiral colon has two bands
and two series of sacculations, which, however, gradually disappear in
the centrifugal part.