diverticulum

American  

[dahy-ver-tik-yuh-luhm] / ˌdaɪ vərˈtɪk yə ləm /

noun

Anatomy.

diverticula plural

1. a blind, tubular sac or process branching off from a canal or cavity, especially an abnormal, saclike herniation of the mucosal layer through the muscular wall of the colon.

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diverticulum British  

/ ˌdaɪvəˈtɪkjʊləm /

noun

1. any sac or pouch formed by herniation of the wall of a tubular organ or part, esp the intestines

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diverticulum Scientific  

/ dī′vûr-tĭk′yə-ləm /

diverticula plural

1. A pouch or sac branching out from a portion of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the large intestine. A diverticulum can occur as a normal structure, or it can be caused by a hernia.

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Other Word Forms

• diverticular
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of diverticulum

1640–50; < Latin, variant of dēverticulum byway, tributary, means of escape, equivalent to dēverti- (combining form of dēvertere, equivalent to dē- de- + vertere to turn) + -culum -cule ²

Example Sentences

Ten and one-half hours before his scheduled March 15 swearing-in, Neves underwent emergency surgery for Meckel's diverticulum, an intestinal ailment.

From Time Magazine Archive

He got fat, a diverticulum or sac developed in the colon, and the sac became inflamed.

From Time Magazine Archive

In all, the book lists more than 650 symptoms and discusses nearly 500 diseases�from acne and cold sores to Zenker's diverticulum, an unnatural pouch that sometimes develops in the esophagus of elderly people.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Dulles' case there was a characteristic, unmistakable diverticulum.

From Time Magazine Archive

The intestine gave forth a much larger diverticulum or caecum than that now existing.

From The Descent of Man by Darwin, Charles