How many bowels do you have

For example, the treatment for colon cancer can be different to the treatment for rectal cancer. The colon is the first part of the large bowel. It is about 5 feet long and has 4 sections. Cancer can develop in any of these. Rectal cancer starts in the last part of the large bowel the back passage. This part of the bowel stores poo stool until it is ready to be passed out of the body. Anal cancer starts in your anus which is the opening at the very end of your large bowel. Poo leaves your body through your anus.

Bowel cancer can spread to another part of the body through the lymphatic system. One of the first places bowel cancer spreads is to the lymph nodes in the tummy abdomen. Bowel cancer can also spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. The liver is a common place for colorectal cancer to spread because blood flows directly from the bowel to the liver. The cancer can also spread into the lung or bone but this is less common. Around 42, people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK each year.

It is the 4th most common cancer in the UK. The risks and causes of bowel colorectal cancer include your age, family history, lifestyle factors and other medical conditions. Mucus serves an important function, but should it be in the stool? Read on to learn more about diagnosis, treatment, and when to seek advice.

How long are the intestines? Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Small intestine Small intestine length Large intestine Large intestine length Comparison Summary The small and large intestines are a vital part of the human digestive system. What is the small intestine? How long is the small intestine? What is the large intestine? How long is the large intestine? Latest news Could 'cupping' technique boost vaccine delivery? Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes.

Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. How do the intestines work? More information Read our booklet, Simple steps for good bowel health , for information on keeping your bowel healthy.

Reviewed May Donate monthly One-off gift Your support helps save lives. Donate now and help us ensure a future where nobody dies of bowel cancer. Donate Monthly. Your support helps save lives. Donate Now. Thanks supporter Thanks for signing up for this great campaign. Login Skip. This muscular tube is made up of the ascending colon, the transverse colon and the descending colon which ends at the rectum and the anus.

The colon also absorbs some nutrients and water. Waste is expelled through the anus. Once the bowel has done its work and absorbed nutrients from food, the waste travels to the rectum which stretches, triggering a message to the brain to say that the bowel is full and needs to be emptied.

After food has travelled along the gut, it has become digested and the nutrients and fluids absorbed; the waste is then expelled through the rectum and anus. The rectum and the upper portion of the anal canal are richly supplied with nerves. When the rectum is full, the nerves sense this fullness and then inform the brain whether this is due to gas or stool. When we need to go to the toilet, the brain tells the anal sphincter muscles, via the nerves, to relax.

As the muscles relax, the anus opens and the rectum empties. In some neurological and spinal conditions the brain cannot tell whether the bowel is full of waste faeces or just wind. This can lead to accidental leakage. The anal canal is about 3 — 4cm long in women and sometimes slightly longer in men.

The internal and external sphincters form 2 concentric rings which run along the length of the anal canal.