megacolon
Abnormally widened intestine
Megacolon is abnormal dilation of the colon, either congenital or acquired.
Hirschsprung's disease causes congenital megacolon through absence of nerve cells in the bowel wall.
Acquired forms result from chronic constipation, obstruction, or conditions like Chagas disease.
The enlarged colon loses its ability to move waste normally, causing severe constipation and abdominal distension.
Lower digestive tract portion
- bowelInternal digestive organ
- dilationWidening of an opening
- distensionEnlargement from pressure
- rectumTerminal intestinal chamber
sigmoid · cecum · lumen · diameter · intestinal · visceral · abdominal · gastrointestinal
Difficult, infrequent waste elimination
- bloatingSwollen, expanded state
- distensionEnlargement from pressure
- abdominal painDiscomfort in the belly
- crampsInvoluntary muscle tightening
tenderness · nausea · vomiting · failure to thrive · tympany · anorexia · malaise
Peripheral nerve cell cluster
- pediatricRelating to child medicine
- neonatalOf earliest infancy
- biopsyTissue sample for diagnosis
- manometryMeasuring pressure in fluids
transition zone · pull-through · anorectal · neuropathy · enteric · congenital · anomaly
Surgical tissue removal
- decompressionReduction of pressure
- enemaRectal fluid injection
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
- laxativesConstipation remedies
surgery · anastomosis · ileostomy · hospitalization · nasogastric · supportive care · antibiotics · monitoring
Capable of causing harm
- neurogenicCaused by neural activity
- myopathyDisorder of muscle tissue
- hypothyroidismInsufficient thyroid hormone production
- diabeticOne with glucose disorder
large intestine
Lower digestive tract portion
- bowelInternal digestive organ
- dilationWidening of an opening
- distensionEnlargement from pressure
rectum · sigmoid · cecum · lumen · diameter · intestinal · visceral · abdominal · gastrointestinal · perforation
constipation
Difficult, infrequent waste elimination
- bloatingSwollen, expanded state
- distensionEnlargement from pressure
- abdominal painDiscomfort in the belly
cramps · tenderness · nausea · vomiting · failure to thrive · tympany · anorexia · malaise
ganglion
Peripheral nerve cell cluster
manometry · transition zone · pull-through · anorectal · neuropathy · enteric · congenital · anomaly
resection
Surgical tissue removal
- decompressionReduction of pressure
- enemaRectal fluid injection
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
laxatives · surgery · anastomosis · ileostomy · hospitalization · nasogastric · supportive care · antibiotics · monitoring
toxic
Capable of causing harm
- neurogenicCaused by neural activity
- myopathyDisorder of muscle tissue
- hypothyroidismInsufficient thyroid hormone production