Discussion Questions:1. Compare and contrast the pathophysiology between diverticular disease (diverticulosis) and diverticulitis.

 Diverticulosis and diverticulitis, both affect the colon, muscles within the wall, and have the presence of diverticula (McCance & Huether, 2019). Diverticula are sac like protrusions of the mucosa throughout the walls of colon in the muscular layers (Elisei & Tursi, 2018). They can occur anywhere within the colon but are more commonly found in the large intestine (McCance & Huether, 2019). The significant difference between both diseases is inflammation. In diverticulosis the diverticula are not inflamed but in diverticulitis, diverticula are inflamed (Elisei& Tursi, 2018). The diverticula may or may not become inflamed in diverticulosis (Elisei & Tursi, 2018). Diverticula present in areas of the colon where the walls are weakened this can be due to either increased intestine motility, intracolonic pressure and or irregular neuromuscular function; although the exact cause of diverticula are unclear (McCance & Huether, 2019). The muscular area surrounding diverticula then becomes thickened; increased pressure can cause a decrease in blood flow resulting in diverticula to rupture (McCance & Huether, 2019). 2. Identify the clinical findings from the case that supports a diagnosis of acute diverticulitis.  Patient presented with “fever a low-grade fever (100.20 F)” “constipation, nausea, vomiting”, abdomen “tender to light palpation of the LLQ but without rebound tenderness” and hypoactive bowel sounds. Linzay and Pandit (2020) explain clinical manifestations of acute diverticulitis areleft lower quadrant abdominal pain, change in bowel habits either constipation or diarrhea, and fever; upon physical examination hypoactive bowel are common but can also be normal, fever is consistent physical examination finding.