Large intestine

The large intestine (colon) has been cut in cross section in the top image and longitudinally through one of the taeniae coli in the bottom images.  The lack of villi and the parallel arrangement of the intestinal glands are diagnostic features of the large intestine.  10x, 10x, 100x

The large intestine (colon) has been cut in cross section in the top image and longitudinally through one of the taeniae coli in the bottom images.  The lack of villi and the parallel arrangement of the intestinal glands are diagnostic features of the large intestine.  10x, 10x, 100x

The large intestine (colon) has been cut in cross section in the top image and longitudinally through one of the taeniae coli in the bottom images.  The lack of villi and the parallel arrangement of the intestinal glands are diagnostic features of the large intestine.  10x, 10x, 100x

The large intestine (colon) has been cut in cross section in the top image and longitudinally through one of the taeniae coli in the bottom images.  The lack of villi and the parallel arrangement of the intestinal glands are diagnostic features of the large intestine.  10x, 10x, 100x

The majority of the outer longitudinal portion of muscularis externa is segregated into three separate bands called taeniae coli, seen cut in cross section in the upper image.  In the bottom image, the muscularis externa has been cut longitudinally through a taenia coli, demonstrating its thickness.

The outermost layer of the large intestine is either an adventitia or a serosa, depending on whether a particular segment of this organ is intra- or retroperitoneal in location.

No villi are present in the large intestine and intestinal glands are highly linear and regularly aligned.