The sigmoid colon is an important part of the human digestive system, located between the descending colon and the rectum, with a total length of about 40-50 cm. Its shape shows a "B" or "S" curve, which is determined by its special position in the pelvic cavity. The primary function of the sigmoid colon is to absorb water and electrolytes while forming, storing, and excreting feces.
After food is absorbed through the small intestine, the remaining residue and water enter the large intestine. The sigmoid colon is the last section of the large intestine and is mainly responsible for further concentrating and forming feces. When feces accumulates to a certain extent, it will stimulate the intestinal wall to produce a defecation reflex and then excrete it from the body. In addition, the sigmoid colon can also absorb some remaining nutrients and water to maintain normal physiological functions of the body.
The mesentery of the sigmoid colon is long and highly mobile, which makes it susceptible to abnormalities such as volvulus. Volvulus is a serious intestinal disease that may lead to intestinal obstruction, ischemia and even necrosis. Therefore, when severe abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms occur, you should seek medical examination and treatment in time.
In addition, because the contents of the sigmoid colon tend to accumulate, this site is also a frequent site for inflammation, diverticula, and tumors. Sigmoiditis is a common intestinal inflammatory disease that may cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, mucus and other symptoms. Sigmoid colon diverticula are sac-like structures that protrude outward from the intestinal wall and are prone to infection and inflammation, leading to diverticulitis. Sigmoid colon tumors include benign tumors and malignant tumors. The malignant tumor, sigmoid colon cancer, is a relatively serious intestinal disease. Early detection and treatment are of great significance for improving the cure rate and survival rate.
Symptoms of sigmoid colon mainly depend on the specific type of disease. Here are some possible symptoms:
Abdominal pain: Conditions such as inflammation or tumors of the sigmoid colon may cause abdominal pain, usually in the left lower abdomen. The pain may be episodic and accompanied by a feeling of bloating and discomfort. The cause of the pain may be inflammation that causes swelling and spasm of the intestinal wall, which irritates the nerve endings in the intestine.
Diarrhea: Inflammation of the sigmoid colon may lead to diarrhea, which is characterized by frequent and large bowel movements. The cause of diarrhea is that inflammation of the intestinal mucosa causes intestinal peristalsis to accelerate and water cannot be fully absorbed.
Hematochezia: Inflammation or tumors in the sigmoid colon may cause hematochezia, which is characterized by bright red blood in the stool. The cause of blood in the stool may be inflammation leading to dilation and rupture of blood vessels in the sigmoid colon mucosa, or tumor invasion leading to blood vessel rupture.
Intestinal obstruction: Tumors or volvulus in the sigmoid colon may cause intestinal obstruction, which may manifest as bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, or constipation. When intestinal obstruction is severe, symptoms such as vomiting and dehydration may occur.
Abdominal mass: Sigmoid colon tumors may cause a mass to appear in the abdomen, which is hard and irregular in shape.
Sigmoidoscopy is an important means of diagnosing sigmoid colon lesions. This examination can visually observe the lesions inside the intestine and perform biopsy or treatment. Our BIX-LV42 sigmoidoscopy can observe the outline of the large intestine and the structure of the intestinal lumen, and observe hyperplastic colon polyps and cancer in the intestine. Provides a variety of intestinal lesions for diagnosis, which is important for understanding their structure and function for the prevention and treatment of intestinal diseases.
