The colon is about 5 feet long and circles the abdomen up the right side, across, and down the left side. It then descends into the lowest part of the colon, or the rectum. The rectum connects to the anus, which is the opening from which stools leave the body. The colon contracts as it moves digested food and waste.

Where is your bowel located in your body?

It is between the stomach and the large bowel (colon). The small bowel is between 4 and 6 metres long. It folds many times to fit inside the tummy (abdomen). It breaks down food, allowing vitamins, minerals and nutrients to be absorbed into the body.

What side is bowel pain?

The most common disorders of the colon are inflammatory bowel diseases such as: ulcerative colitis, which causes pain in the sigmoid colon—the final part of the large intestine that leads to the rectum. Crohn's disease, which typically causes pain around the belly button or on the lower right side of the abdomen.