What does diverticula mean?
Diverticula are small, balloon-like pouches that push outward through weak points in the wall of a hollow organ — most often the large intestine, though they can occur elsewhere in the digestive tract. The word is the plural of the singular 'diverticulum' and belongs to medical vocabulary, where it anchors two closely related terms: 'diverticulosis', which simply describes the presence of these pouches, and 'diverticulitis', which refers to their inflammation or infection. Diverticula become increasingly common with age, and many people who have them remain entirely symptom-free, learning of them only incidentally during routine examinations such as a colonoscopy. When they do cause problems — typically abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, or bleeding — treatment ranges from dietary adjustment to antibiotics or surgery. The term derives from Latin 'divertere', meaning 'to turn aside', a fitting image for pockets where contents of the bowel veer off the main path.
noun (plural)Diverticula are small, bulging pouches that form in the wall of a hollow organ, most commonly the colon. They are the plural form of 'diverticulum'.
- Small sac-like outpouchings that protrude through weak spots in the muscular wall of a hollow organ such as the intestine.
"The colonoscopy revealed numerous diverticula along the descending colon."
"Most people with diverticula in the colon experience no symptoms at all."
"A high-fibre diet is thought to reduce the risk of developing new diverticula."
This is already the plural form; the singular is 'diverticulum'. Avoid the anglicised 'diverticulums'.
"The surgeon removed a segment of bowel containing multiple inflamed diverticula."
By age 60, roughly half of all people carry diverticula in their colons — and most never feel a thing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of diverticula
The word traces to New Latin 'diverticulum', a bypath or side channel, formed from Latin 'divertere' ('to turn aside'), composed of 'dis-' ('apart') and 'vertere' ('to turn'). It entered medical English in the early modern period as anatomy adopted Latinate terminology. English cognates sharing this root include 'divert' and 'diversion'.
Related word forms
How diverticula is actually used
'Diverticula' is the Latin-style plural of the singular 'diverticulum' (the anglicised plural 'diverticulums' is rare and generally avoided). The word belongs chiefly to medical and anatomical register; it appears rarely outside clinical contexts. Adjectival use ('diverticular disease') derives from the adjective form rather than from this noun directly.
Easily confused with diverticula
Diverticula are the pouches themselves; diverticulitis is the inflammation or infection of those pouches.
Diverticulosis is the condition of having diverticula, while diverticula are the anatomical structures.