Which term describes a mucous membrane outpouching through a tear in the muscular layer of the GI tract?

Which term describes a mucous membrane outpouching through a tear in the muscular layer of the GI tract?

• A. Diverticulum
• B. Haustra
• C. Intussusception
• D. Malrotation

Answer: (A)

A diverticulum describes a pouch that forms when the mucosa (and often the submucosa) herniates through a defect or tear in the muscular layer of the GI tract. This creates a mucous membrane outpouching that protrudes through the muscularis, a feature classically seen in diverticulosis of the colon. It’s helpful to contrast this with other terms: haustra are the normal pouch-like segments of the colon formed by muscular segments, not outpouchings through a tear; intussusception is a segment of bowel telescoping into another segment; malrotation is an abnormal embryologic rotation of the gut.

A diverticulum describes a pouch that forms when the mucosa (and often the submucosa) herniates through a defect or tear in the muscular layer of the GI tract. This creates a mucous membrane outpouching that protrudes through the muscularis, a feature classically seen in diverticulosis of the colon. It’s helpful to contrast this with other terms: haustra are the normal pouch-like segments of the colon formed by muscular segments, not outpouchings through a tear; intussusception is a segment of bowel telescoping into another segment; malrotation is an abnormal embryologic rotation of the gut.