DIVERTICULUM Meaning and
Definition
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A diverticulum is a small pouch or pocket that forms on the wall of a hollow organ or structure in the body. These structures can include the digestive tract, bladder, or blood vessels. Diverticula are typically formed due to weak areas or abnormal pressure on the affected organ, resulting in the bulging out of the organ's lining.
In the digestive system, the most common type of diverticulum is found in the large intestine, specifically in the colon. When pressure builds up in weakened spots, small pouches develop along the colon wall, giving rise to a condition known as diverticulosis. These pouches are called diverticula, and they tend to increase in number over time. Diverticula may not cause any symptoms and are often discovered incidentally during diagnostic tests. However, if the diverticula become inflamed or infected, a condition called diverticulitis arises, leading to abdominal pain, fever, and changes in bowel habits.
Diverticula can also develop in other parts of the body, such as the bladder, leading to bladder diverticulum. This condition can cause symptoms like difficulty emptying the bladder, urinary frequency, or urinary tract infections.
Treatment for diverticula depends on the location and severity. Mild forms may be managed through dietary modifications, while severe cases might require surgical intervention to remove the affected portion of the organ.
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A pouch or sac opening out from a tubular organ; an offshooting cul-de-sac.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for DIVERTICULUM
- siverticulum
- xiverticulum
- civerticulum
- fiverticulum
- riverticulum
- eiverticulum
- duverticulum
- djverticulum
- dkverticulum
- doverticulum
- d9verticulum
- d8verticulum
- dicerticulum
- diberticulum
- digerticulum
- diferticulum
- divwrticulum
- divsrticulum
- divdrticulum
- diverticulom
- divercitculum
Etymology of DIVERTICULUM
The word "diverticulum" has its etymology rooted in Latin. It is derived from the Latin word "diverticulus", which means "byway" or "diversion". This Latin term is a diminutive form of "diverticulum", which means "a small path or side road". The word "diverticulum" was later adopted into scientific and medical terminology to refer to small pouches or sacs that can form in various organs, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract.
Similar spelling words for DIVERTICULUM
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