Skip to main content
Log in

Analysis of length and surface area of each segment of the large intestine according to age, sex and physique

Etude de la longueur et de la surface développée des différents segments du colon en fonction de l'âge, du sexe et du morphotype

  • Radiological Anatomy
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Length, diameter and surface area of each of 6 segments of the large intestine were determined and calculated in 920 Japanese patients who underwent barium enema. Of the length and surface area measurements obtained, those of the transverse colon were the largest, followed by those of the sigmoid colon. The diameter of the ascending colon was the largest, while those of the descending colon and sigmoid colon were the smallest. There were various sex differences in size of the large intestine. Length and surface area of the entire large intestine in males were shorter and smaller respectively than those in females. Lengths of the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon and rectum in males were shorter than those in females. Diameters of the descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum in males were larger than those in females. Total surface areas of the ascending colon and transverse colon in males were smaller than those in females, while total surface areas of the descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum in males were larger than those in females. Length of the entire large intestine tended to be increased with age. Length and surface area of the entire large intestine tended to be increased with an increase in physical dimensions in females.

Résumé

La longueur, le diamètre et la surface développée de chacun des six segments du colon ont été mesurés sur une série de 920 lavements barytés pratiqués chez des patients Japonais. Le colon transverse est le segment le plus long et le plus étendu en surface, suivi par le colon sigmoïde. Le diamètre du colon ascendant est le plus important, tandis que ceux du colon descendant et du sigmoïde sont les plus étroits. Des différences de taille du colon en fonction du sexe ont été observées. La longueur et la surface de la totalité du colon étaient toutes deux moins importantes chez les hommes que chez les femmes. Les longueurs du caecum, du colon ascendant, du colon transverse et du rectum, sont également moins importantes chez les hommes que chez les femmes. Les diamètres du colon descendant, du colon sigmoïde et du rectum sont plus importants chez les hommes que chez les femmes. La surface développée du colon ascendant et du colon transverse est moins étendue chez les hommes que chez les femmes, tandis que le total des surfaces du colon descendant, du colon sigmoïde et du rectum, est plus important chez les hommes que chez les femmes. La longueur totale du colon tend à augmenter avec l'âge. La longueur et la surface de l'ensemble du colon a également tendance à augmenter chez les femmes avec importance du morphotype.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hirsch J, Ahrens EH, Blankenhorn DH (1956) Measurement of the human intestinal length in vivo and some causes of variation. Gastroenterology 31: 274–284

    Google Scholar 

  2. Japanese Research Society for Cancer of Colon and Rectum (1983) General rules for clinical and pathological studies on cancer of colon, rectum and anus, 3rd edn., Kanehara, Tokyo, pp 2–4

    Google Scholar 

  3. Spratt JS, Ackerman LV, Moyer CA (1958) Relationship of polyps of the colon to colonic cancer. Ann Surg 148: 682–698

    Google Scholar 

  4. Rouviere H (1967) Anatomie humaine, 2nd edn. Masson, Paris, pp 349–365

    Google Scholar 

  5. Petren T, Roux F (1975) Introduction à l'anatomie humaine. Presses universitaires de France, Paris pp 98–101

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bouchet A, Cuilleret J (1983) Anatomietopographique, descriptive et fonctionnelle, vol 4. Simep, Lyon

    Google Scholar 

  7. Treves F (1885) The anatomy of the intestinal canal and peritoneum in man. Br Med J 1: 415–419

    Google Scholar 

  8. Underhill BML (1955) Intestinal length in man. Br Med J 2: 1243–1246

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sadahiro, S., Ohmura, T., Yamada, Y. et al. Analysis of length and surface area of each segment of the large intestine according to age, sex and physique. Surg Radiol Anat 14, 251–257 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01794949

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01794949

Key words

Navigation