Diverticulitis is best defined as which of the following?

• A. Infection of the liver
• B. Inflammation of the colon lining
• C. Inflammation of the stomach lining
• D. Inflammation of a diverticulum, especially in the colon, with pain and disturbance of bowel function

Answer: (D)

Diverticulitis means inflammation of a diverticulum, most often in the colon, which causes abdominal pain (often in the left lower quadrant), fever, and changes in bowel habits. This directly matches the defined condition: an inflamed diverticulum with associated pain and bowel function disturbance. The other options point to infections or inflammations of different organs (liver, stomach, or colon lining in general) and do not describe a diverticular inflammation. So the best definition is inflammation of a diverticulum, especially in the colon, with pain and disturbance of bowel function.