Diverticulitis — what is it?

Diverticulitis — what is it?

• A. Inflamed, perforated, or impacted diverticula (small sacs in colon wall)
• B. Ulcers in the ileum
• C. Malabsorption in the jejunum
• D. Gallstone obstruction

Answer: (A)

Diverticulitis is inflammation of the diverticula, which are small pouch-like herniations that can form in the colon wall. When these pouches become inflamed, and sometimes when they are perforated or blocked, the condition is diverticulitis. That description—inflamed, perforated, or impacted diverticula—perfectly captures what diverticulitis is. The other choices describe different GI problems: ulcers in the ileum are characteristic of conditions like Crohn’s disease; malabsorption in the jejunum points to disorders such as celiac disease or other intestinal malabsorptive conditions; gallstone obstruction refers to issues with the biliary system or gallbladder leading to obstruction. They do not describe inflammation of colonic diverticula, which is why they aren’t correct for this question.

Diverticulitis is inflammation of the diverticula, which are small pouch-like herniations that can form in the colon wall. When these pouches become inflamed, and sometimes when they are perforated or blocked, the condition is diverticulitis. That description—inflamed, perforated, or impacted diverticula—perfectly captures what diverticulitis is.

The other choices describe different GI problems: ulcers in the ileum are characteristic of conditions like Crohn’s disease; malabsorption in the jejunum points to disorders such as celiac disease or other intestinal malabsorptive conditions; gallstone obstruction refers to issues with the biliary system or gallbladder leading to obstruction. They do not describe inflammation of colonic diverticula, which is why they aren’t correct for this question.