The large intestine completes absorption, and retrieves water and sodium from the luminal contents which become fecal residue. It secretes large amounts of mucus, and some hormones, but no digestive enzymes.

The thick mucosa has deep crypts, but there are no villi. The epithelium is formed of columnar absorptive cells with a striated border, many goblet cells, endocrine cells and basal stem cells, but no Paneth cells. The surface epithelial cells are sloughed into the lumen, and have to be replaced around every 6 days.

The lamina propria and submucosa are similar to the small intestine.

The longitudinal smooth muscle in the muscularis externa is arranged in three longitudinal bands called taenia coli. At the anus, the circular muscle forms the internal anal sphincter.