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(dÄ«'vÃ»r-tÄ­k'yÉ-lÉm) Plural diverticula. A pouch or sac branching out from a portion of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the large intestine. A diverticulum can occur as a normal structure, or it can be caused by a hernia.
Most people will have no or few symptoms from diverticula. Complications can occur in about 20% of people with diverticulosis. One of these complications is rectal bleeding, called diverticular bleeding, and another is diverticular infection, called diverticulitis. Diverticular Bleeding. Diverticular bleeding occurs with chronic injury to the small blood vessels that are next to the diverticula. Diverticulitis. Diverticulitis occurs when there is inflammation and infection in one or more diverticula.