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. And this S shaped colon section is known as the sigmoid colon. So the colon can be divided into our ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colon. And the function of this colon of the large intestine is to basically absorb water ions such as calcium and sodium ions and vitamins that have not been absorbed by other parts of the body.