What does diverticulum mean?
A diverticulum is a small, abnormal pouch or sac that forms when the inner layers of a hollow organ push through a weakness in its muscular wall. Though diverticula can occur anywhere in the digestive tract — or even in the bladder — they are by far most common in the colon, where decades of pressure from straining and low-fibre diets encourage their formation. In many people a diverticulum causes no symptoms at all; the mere presence of such pouches is called diverticulosis. When one becomes blocked and infected, however, the resulting inflammation, known as diverticulitis, can cause significant pain and requires medical attention. The term derives from Latin, meaning literally 'a turning aside', and it remains firmly a clinical word: you will encounter it in doctors' reports, anatomy texts, and medical journalism rather than everyday conversation. Its plural is diverticula.
nounA small pouch or sac that protrudes outward from the wall of a hollow organ, most commonly the colon or intestine.
- A pouch or sac herniating from the wall of a hollow organ (especially the intestine).
"The colonoscopy revealed a single diverticulum in the sigmoid colon, which posed no immediate concern."
"A Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital remnant of the omphalomesenteric duct found in about two percent of people."
"The surgeon noted that each diverticulum along the bowel wall was small but inflamed."
The plural follows standard Latin second-declension neuter rules (-um → -a), consistent with other medical terms like bacterium/bacteria.
"Multiple diverticula were identified throughout the ascending colon."
The word 'diverticulum' comes from Latin for 'a turning aside' — and in medicine, it's exactly what your colon does when it pushes out an unexpected little detour.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does diverticulum come from?
Diverticulum comes directly from New Latin, formed from the Latin verb 'divertere' (to turn aside or away), combined with the diminutive suffix '-culum', giving the sense of 'a little turning aside'. The same root gave English words like 'divert' and 'diversion'. It entered anatomical usage in the early modern period as physicians adopted Latin terminology to describe bodily structures, and it has remained unchanged since.
Related word forms
How diverticulum is actually used
A formal, technical medical term used almost exclusively in clinical and anatomical contexts. The plural is the Latin-form 'diverticula'. Adjective form is 'diverticular'; related conditions are 'diverticulosis' (presence of pouches) and 'diverticulitis' (inflammation of them).
Easily confused with diverticulum
Diverticula is simply the plural form of the singular diverticulum, referring to more than one pouch.
Diverticulitis is the inflammation or infection of one or more diverticula, not the pouch itself.