The haustra (singular haustrum) of the colon are the small pouches caused by sacculation (sac formation), which give the colon its segmented appearance. The

teniae coli The taeniae coli (also teniae coli or tenia coli) are three separate longitudinal ribbons (''taeniae'' meaning ribbon in Latin) of smooth muscle on the outside of the ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colons. They are visible and can b ...

run the length of the colon. Because the taenia coli are shorter than the colon, the colon becomes sacculated between the teniae coli, forming the haustra. Haustral contractions are slow segmenting, uncoordinated movements that occur approximately every 25 minutes. One haustrum distends as it fills with chyme, which stimulates muscles to contract, pushing the contents to the next haustrum. Also see

peristalsis Peristalsis ( , ) is a radially symmetrical contraction and relaxation of muscles that propagate in a wave down a tube, in an anterograde direction. Peristalsis is progression of coordinated contraction of involuntary circular muscles, whic ...

. There is a wider distance between haustra than between the circular folds of the small intestine, and the haustra don't reach around the entire circumference of the intestine, in contrast to circular folds of the small intestine that do. These differences can assist in distinguishing the small intestine from the colon on an

abdominal x-ray An abdominal x-ray is an Projectional radiography, x-ray of the abdomen. It is sometimes abbreviated to AXR, or kidneys, ureters, and bladder, KUB (for kidneys, ureters, and urinary bladder). Indications In children, abdominal x-ray is indicated ...

Clinical significance

Widespread loss of haustra is a sign of chronic

ulcerative colitis Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-term condition that results in inflammation and ulcers of the colon and rectum. The primary symptoms of active disease are abdominal pain and diarrhea mixed with blood (hematochezia). Weight loss, fever, and ...

. Localized ahaustral distended colon can be seen on

during obstruction or

volvulus A volvulus is when a loop of intestine twists around itself and the mesentery that supports it, resulting in a bowel obstruction. Symptoms include abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, vomiting, constipation, and bloody stool. Onset of symptoms m ...

Sigmoidal volvolus Sigmoid colon volvulus, also known as sigmoid volvulus, is volvulus affecting the sigmoid colon. It is a common cause of bowel obstruction and constipation. It is common in Asia, India (7% of intestinal obstruction) and especially South India be ...

, more often seen in psychiatric and neurologically impaired patients (e.g.

Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms usually emerge slowly, and as the disease worsens, non-motor symptoms becom ...

), shows lack of haustra on x-ray and points from the pelvis to the right upper quadrant just below the diaphragm.

Clinical significance

References

Further reading