Diverticulosis - Diverticulosis refers to the presence of diverticula, without inflammation or infection. Diverticulosis may be referred to as diverticular disease when patients experience symptoms.
Diverticulitis - Inflammation and infection of the diverticula
Diverticular occur in 50% of people over 50
Risk Factors
The wall of the large intestine contains a layer of muscle called the circular muscle. The points where this muscle layer is penetrated by blood vessels are areas of weakness. Increased pressure inside the lumen over time, can cause a gap to form in these areas of the circular muscle. These gaps allow the mucosa to herniate through the muscle layer and pouches to form (diverticula).
Diverticula do not form in the rectum, because it has an outer longitudinal muscle layer that completely surrounds the diameter of the rectum, adding extra support. In the rest of the colon, there are three longitudinal muscles that run along the colon, forming strips or ribbons called teniae coli. The teniae coli do not surround the entire diameter of the colon, and the areas that are not covered by teniae coli are vulnerable to the development of diverticula.