The transverse colon is about 15 in. (38 cm) long and extends across the abdomen, occupying the umbilical region. It begins at the right colic flexure below the right lobe of the liver and hangs downward, suspended by the transverse mesocolon from the pancreas. It then ascends to the left colic flexure below the spleen. The left colic flexure is higher than the right colic flexure and is suspended from the diaphragm by the phrenicocolic ligament.
The transverse mesocolon, or mesentery of the transverse colon, suspends the transverse colon from the anterior border of the pancreas. The mesentery is attached to the superior border of the transverse colon, and the posterior layers of the greater omentum are attached to the inferior border because of the length of the transverse mesocolon.