A common problem, present at birth, in which a small, hollow, wide-mouthed sac protrudes from the ileum. Symptoms only occur when the diverticulum becomes infected, obstructed, or ulcerated. The most common symptom is painless bleeding, which may be sudden and severe, making immediate blood transfusion necessary. Inflammation may cause symptoms very similar to those of acute appendicitis. Meckel’s diverticulum occasionally causes intussusception or volvulus of the small intestine. Diagnosis of Meckel’s diverticulum may be made by using technetium radionuclide scanning. If complications occur, they are treated by surgical removal of the diverticulum.
A pouch or pocket leading o? a main cavity or tube. The term is especially applied to protrusions from the intestine, which may be present either at the time of birth as a developmental peculiarity, or which develop in numbers upon the large intestine during the course of life.... diverticulum
A hollow pouch sometimes found attached to the small INTESTINE. It is placed on the small intestine about 90–120 cm (3–4 feet) from its junction with the large intestine, is several centimetres long, and ends blindly. It is lined with cells similar to those which line the stomach, and so may produce acid. This leads to occasional illness – Meckel’s diverticulitis with ulceration, which causes abdominal pain and fever (sometimes referred to as ‘left-sided appendicitis’). Perforation may result in PERITONITIS and, rarely, may be the lead point of an INTUSSUSCEPTION.... meckel’s diverticulum
A sac-like protrusion of part of the oesophagus wall in which food becomes trapped, causing irritation, difficulty swallowing, halitosis, and regurgitation. A diverticulum is usually removed surgically.... oesophageal diverticulum
a cartilaginous bar in the fetus around which the *mandible develops. Part of Meckel’s cartilage develops into the malleus (an ear ossicle) in the adult. [J. F. Meckel, the Younger (1781–1833), German anatomist]... meckel’s cartilage
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