Diverticular Disease Compare and contrast the pathophysiology between diverticular disease (diverticulosis) and diverticulitis

 . Diverticula are pouches of mucosa through weak spots in the muscle layers of the colon wall (Thompson, 2016).Diverticula occur in two forms which are diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Diverticulosis is an asymptomatic disease of the diverticula in which the muscle wall thickens, and neurotransmitters expression is altered resulting in increased pressures within the lumen (Freckelton et al., 2018).While scientists are unsure of what causes this disease process, it is thought that a low-fiber diet, and spasms in the musculature of the colon wall could lead to its development. Diverticulitis involves the exacerbation of the diverticula by inflammation or infection. Inflammation typically occurs as a result of fecal impaction within the outpouchings and obstruction of the lumen(Freckelton et al., 2018)