Haustrum (anatomy)

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 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.

Haustra
Arteries of cecum and vermiform process.
Details
Identifiers
Latinhaustra coli
TA98A05.7.03.009
TA22989
FMA14552
Anatomical terminology

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.

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.

Clinical significance

Widespread loss of haustra is a sign of chronic ulcerative colitis.[1] Localized ahaustral distended colon can be seen on abdominal x-ray during obstruction or volvulus.

Sigmoidal volvolus, more often seen in psychiatric and neurologically impaired patients (e.g. Parkinson's disease), shows lack of haustra on x-ray and points from the pelvis to the right upper quadrant just below the diaphragm.

References
  1. Gore, R. (1992). "Colonic contour changes in chronic ulcerative colitis: Reappraisal of some old concepts". AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology. 158 (1): 59–61. doi:10.2214/ajr.158.1.1727359. PMID 1727359.

Further reading
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