Medical Dictionary
Main Entry:
Hirsch·sprung's disease Pronunciation:
'hirsh-"pru[ng]z- Function:
noun : megacolon that is caused by congenital absence of ganglion cellsin the muscular wall of the distal part of the colon with resulting loss of peristaltic function in this part and dilatation of the colon proximal to the aganglionic part called also
congenitalmegacolon Hirschsprung, Harold (1830–1916), Danish pediatrician. Hirschsprung published a number of important papers on children's diseases, describing suchconditions as pyloric stenosis, intussusception, and rickets. As chief physician at a children's hospital in Copenhagen, he noted certain cases of constipation in infants due to enlargement of thecolon. He published his description of congenital megacolon in 1888.
