US Medical Term · conditions
Diverticulosis
Diverticulosis
What it means
Diverticulosis is a condition that occurs when small pouches, or sacs, form and push outward through weak spots in the wall of the colon. One pouch is called a diverticulum, and multiple pouches are called diverticula. The pouches form mostly in the lower part of the colon, called the sigmoid colon. Most people who have diverticula in their colon do not have symptoms or problems, and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says most people with diverticulosis will never develop any. Diverticulosis is quite common, especially as people age. Doctors may notice the pouches in the colon wall while performing tests, such as x-rays or a colonoscopy, for another reason. Diverticulosis is not the same as diverticulitis, which occurs when diverticula become inflamed.
Diverticulosis in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Diverticulosis
- Gender and article
- feminine: la diverticulosis
- Pronunciation
- dee-behr-tee-koo-LOH-sees
Diverticulosis has the same spelling in Spanish and English. In the Real Academia Española dictionary it carries the marks f. (feminine) and Med. (medicine), with the definition presencia de divertículos en el tubo digestivo. That wording refers to the digestive tract; the National Cancer Institute's English dictionary likewise speaks of the walls of a hollow organ, such as the colon. The Spanish page of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) writes la diverticulosis and describes the condition in the colon.
English has a separate singular and plural for the pouch, diverticulum and diverticula. The NIDDK Spanish page uses one word, divertículos, and speaks of having uno o varios divertículos. It describes them as pequeñas bolsas o sacos that push out through puntos débiles en la pared del colon, and it calls the lower part of the colon the colon sigmoide. The same page uses enfermedad diverticular and sangrado diverticular, where the adjective diverticular follows the noun.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Clinician | Your colonoscopy showed diverticulosis: small pouches in the wall of your colon. | Su colonoscopia mostró diverticulosis: pequeñas bolsas en la pared del colon. |
| Patient | I have never heard that word. Could you spell it for me? | Nunca había oído esa palabra. ¿Podría deletreármela? |
| Patient | I do not have any pain. How long have I had these pouches? | No tengo ningún dolor. ¿Desde cuándo tengo estas bolsas? |
| Clinician | Most people who have these pouches do not have symptoms. | La mayoría de las personas que tienen estas bolsas no presentan síntomas. |
| Clinician | Do you have bloating, constipation or diarrhea? | ¿Tiene hinchazón abdominal, estreñimiento o diarrea? |
| Patient | My brother has diverticular disease. Does it run in families? | Mi hermano tiene enfermedad diverticular. ¿Viene de familia? |
| Clinician | Have you ever seen blood in your stool? | ¿Ha visto alguna vez sangre en las heces? |
| Patient | Is this finding written in my report? I would like a copy for my family doctor. | ¿Este hallazgo está escrito en mi informe? Quisiera una copia para mi médico de cabecera. |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Diverticulosis |
| Spanish (Español) | Diverticulosis |
| Chinese (中文) | 憩室病 |
| Korean (한국어) | 게실증 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Bệnh túi thừa |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Diverticulosis |
| Portuguese (Português) | Diverticulose |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ถุงจิ๋วในลำไส้ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 憩室症 |
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
ICD-10-CM code: K57 → Diverticular disease of intestineRelated terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Digestive system
All terms in this area: Digestive system — Sistema digestivo
Sources
- Definition & Facts for Diverticular Disease — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH
- Definición y hechos sobre la enfermedad diverticular — Instituto Nacional de la Diabetes y las Enfermedades Digestivas y Renales (NIDDK), NIH
- Diagnosis of Diverticular Disease — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH
- diverticulosis — NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms — National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH
- diverticulosis — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / ASALE
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026