Bundles of longitudinal muscle should be clearly visible on the outside of the colon. Plicae circulares are absent from the luminal side of the colon. Draw a small schematic figure of these features. Now have a closer look at the components of the wall of the colon. Villi are absent and the crypts appear deeper than the ones you observed in the small intestine.
Goblet cells are numerous.
The lamina propria and muscularis mucosae may be difficult to distinguish. Note also that a thin layer of longitudinal muscle is found between the taenia coli on the outside of the inner circular muscle layer. Draw a small segment of the wall of the colon and label specialized features of the colon in your drawing. Junctions Junctions between the major parts of the alimentary canal share a rapid transition from tissues characteristic of one part to those characteristic for the next part , e.g. the transition from the stratified squamous epithelium of the oesophagus to the glandular epithelium of the stomach. If a section of the gastro-oesophageal junction is available, have a look at the cardiac glands of the stomach.