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Diverticula)
A diverticulum (plural: diverticula) is medical term for an outpouching of a hollow (or a fluid filled) structure in the body. Its use implies that the structure is not normally present, although embryologically, some normal structures begin development as a diverticulum arising off of another structure (for example, the lungs begin as a diverticulum forming off of the ventral foregut).
In no particular order, some frequently encountered diverticulum follow:
- Zenker diverticulum
- Killian-Jamieson diverticulum
- Traction esophageal diverticulum (due to scarring from mediastinal or pulmonary tuberculosis)
- Epiphrenic diverticulum (due to dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter, as in achalasia)
- Duodenal & Jejunal diverticul(um|a): congenital lesions, may be a source of bacterial overgrowth
- Meckel's diverticulum - a persistent portion of the omphalomesenteric duct present in 2% of the population
- Colonic diverticula ('tics in the colon): a problem seen in Westerners (due to diet?); can get infected diverticulitis and can perforate, requiring surgery
- Diverticulum of Kummerall : unusual nomenclature, in that focal dilatations of a blood vessel are properly referred to as aneurysms
- Bladder diverticulum; commonly associated with a chronic outflow obstruction, such as benign prostatic hypertrophy in an older male
- Urethral diverticulum: congenital in males, post-infectious in females
