And the sequm connects our ilium of the small intestine to this section of the colon. Now, the colon is the longest portion of our large intestine and that's because the colon's role is to absorb the water, the ions, the minerals, as well as certain vitamins that have not been absorbed by other organs, by other structures inside our body. So we can divide the colon into four segments. This ascending portion along which the kind travels upward is known as our ascending colon. This portion along which the kind travels horizontally is known as the transverse colon. This portion along which our kind travels down is known as the descending colon.