diverticulum /dī′vurtik″yo̅o̅ləm/ pl. diverticula [L, diverticulare, to turn aside] , a pouchlike herniation through the muscular wall of a tubular organ. A diverticulum may be present in the stomach, the small intestine, or, most commonly, the colon. It is typically detected by radiography after the ingestion of a radiopaque substance. See also diverticulitis, diverticulosis, Meckel’s diverticulum. −diverticular, adj.
