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diverticula

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di⋅ver⋅tic⋅u⋅lum

[dahy-ver-tik-yuh-luhm]
–noun, plural -la [-luh] . Anatomy.
a blind, tubular sac or process branching off from a canal or cavity, esp. an abnormal, saclike herniation of the mucosal layer through the muscular wall of the colon.

Origin:
1640–50; < L, var. of dēverticulum byway, tributary, means of escape, equiv. to dēverti- (comb. form of dēvertere, equiv. to dē- de- + vertere to turn) + -culum -cule 2


di⋅ver⋅tic⋅u⋅lar, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To diverticula
di·ver·tic·u·la   (dī'vûr-tĭk'yə-lə)   
n.  Plural of diverticulum.
di·ver·tic·u·lum   (dī'vûr-tĭk'yə-ləm)   
n.   pl. di·ver·tic·u·la (-lə)
A pouch or sac branching out from a hollow organ or structure, such as the intestine.

[New Latin, from Latin dēverticulum, by-path, from dēvertere, to turn aside : dē-, de- + vertere, to turn; see divert.]
di'ver·tic'u·lar adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

diverticulum 
"blind tube" (anatomical), 1819, Mod.L., from L. deverticulum "a bypath," from devertere "to turn aside" (see divert).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: diverticula
plural of DIVERTICULUM

Main Entry: di·ver·tic·u·lum
Pronunciation: "dI-v&r-'tik-y&-l&m
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural di·ver·tic·u·la /-l&/
1 : an abnormal pouch or sac opening from a hollow organ (as the intestine or bladder)
2 : a blind tube or sac branching off from a cavity or canal of the body diverticulum of the intestine —Gordon Alexander>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

diverticulum di·ver·tic·u·lum (dī'vûr-tĭk'yə-ləm)
n. pl. di·ver·tic·u·la (-lə)
A pouch or sac branching out from a hollow organ or structure.


di'ver·tic'u·lar adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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