Shotgun Histology Colon,The colon has a wider lumen than the small intestine and there are changes in the mucosa and muscularis externa. The epithelium of the mucosa is formed into glands containing extensive mucus secreting cells. The external longitudinal muscle coat is formed into three bands, the taeniae coli. The longitudinal muscle gives the appearance of being too short so that the "excess" mucosa is formed into pouches, the haustra. Attached to the surface of the colon are small fat-filled appendages, the appendices epiploicae. The ganglion cells of Auerbach's plexus are present between the circular and longitudinal muscle coats. The colon ends at the anorectal junction where the epithelium changes abruptly from columnar to stratified squamous.
Report Abuse
