Divertikulus

Divertikulus is a medical term used to describe a small diverticulum, a pouch that extends from the wall of an organ. The word comes from the Latin diverticulum, meaning a turning aside, with the diminutive suffix -ulus, indicating a small outpouching. In practice, divertikulus may be used to specify particularly small diverticula or to distinguish minor outpouchings from larger ones in anatomical or radiological descriptions.

Divertikuli can occur in hollow organs lined by mucosa, most often in the gastrointestinal tract. The colon is a common site, where mucosa and submucosa may herniate through the muscular wall to form an outpouching. Although the term is not restricted to a single organ, the concept applies to any small diverticular pouch arising from a glandular or mucosal surface. Factors that promote outpouching include structural weakness of the wall and increased intraluminal pressure, and occurrences may be age-related or associated with underlying diseases.

Clinical significance varies. Many divertikuli are asymptomatic and found incidentally. When inflamed, infected, or complicated by bleeding, they can cause symptoms and require medical evaluation. In the context of divertikulus, inflammation corresponds to conditions such as diverticulitis in which management may range from observation and antibiotics to surgical intervention for complications.

Diagnosis is typically based on imaging or endoscopic examination, with computed tomography, ultrasound, or endoscopy providing visualization of the divertikulus and any associated complications. Treatment is guided by symptoms and complications rather than the presence of a small diverticulum alone.

See also: diverticulum, diverticulosis, diverticulitis.