How long is the colon?

The colon or large intestine is approximately 5 feet long and 3 inches in diameter. The small intestine is 20 feet long and 1 inch in diameter. The large intestine is responsible for absorbing water from wastes and creating stool, notes WebMD.

The colon is made up of four parts namely the descending, ascending, transverse and sigmoid colon. This body part is responsible for absorbing fluids or water from already digested foods and preparing wastes. Once waste has been prepared, the colon pushes it to the rectum and subsequently stool is passed through the anus. The colon is long and has the shape of a coiled tube. It is also referred to as the large bowel, according to MedicineNet.