So what is Diverticulitis?
Well, in simple terms, your lower intestine has little pouches or bulges in it. These little pouches or bulges trap food, which grows bad bacteria, which sets on pain etc. Diverticulitis is when you have an inflammation, or pain.

Some basic definitions. Diverticula - this is the name for the little pouches.

Diverticuli - plural version of Diverticula

Diverticulosis - this is the name of the condition, e.g. if you have Diverticulosis, you have the little pouches (Diverticula) in your lower intestine.

Diverticulitis - this is the name of the condition when you have pain. The pouches (Diverticula) have become inflamed and are infected. Usually treated medically with antibiotics.

Colon - is the large intestine

There are of course heaps of other varieties of Diverticulitis, but this is not a medical site and we are not here to explain them all. The information here is just the basics and is here to try and simplify the information, to make it easily understandable.

Below is a great image of a Diverticula, there are lots more images at Gastrolab if you wish to have a look. Images include x-rays etc. You can see the little pockets, pouches or whatever you wish to call them - Diverticula (Diverticuli)


Here is also a image relating the position and layout of the stomach. You can see the colon and the different sections of the colon.
See gastro lab for more images.