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What is the route of waste through the large intestine before it leaves the body?

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Diagram of the human digestive system viewed from the front, showing and labeling organs including the mouth, teeth, tongue, salivary glands, pharynx, esophagus, liver, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, large intestine, small intestine, appendix, rectum, and anus. — digestion The human digestive system as seen from the front.

In the human digestive system, waste material travels through the large intestine in a specific sequence before it is excreted from the body.

After passing through the ileocecal valve from the small intestine, the waste enters the cecum, which is the first part of the large intestine. From there, it moves through the colon, which consists of four distinct segments:12

Ascending colon: Extends upward on the right side of the abdomen.13
Transverse colon: Crosses the abdomen to the left side.13
Descending colon: Passes downward along the left side.13
Sigmoid colon: A loop that connects the descending colon to the rectum.13

Once the waste reaches the rectum, it is stored as fecal matter until the body is ready for elimination. Finally, the waste is expelled from the body through the anus. Throughout this journey, the large intestine absorbs water and electrolytes, gradually thickening the material into feces.4523