Role and function of the colon – the task of the colon is to concentrate the non-absorbable material that reaches it (indigestible food residues, digestive juices that are no longer needed, cells shed from the intestinal lining, dead bacteria, and small amounts of proteins and fats) and to eliminate waste.
On an average diet, about 75-170 g of stool is passed per day. The colonhas a rich bacterial flora that can produce vitamin K, break down cellulose and putrefy protein in an alkaline environment. The colon's countless bacteria digest certain substances further, producing gas in the process.
