Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

diuretic, potassium-sparing
A diuretic that
blocks the exchange of sodium (salt) and potas-
sium, encouraging the excretion of sodium and
therefore of water, but generally allowing potassium
to be retained. See also 
diuretic.
diuretic, thiazide
A diuretic that works by
encouraging excretion of both sodium (salt) and
chloride. See also 
diuretic.
diurnal
Occurring in the daytime. A patient may
have a diurnal fever rather than a nocturnal one.
Diurnal also refers to something that recurs every
day.
diverticula
The plural of diverticulum.
diverticulitis
Inflammation of diverticula along
the wall of the the large intestine (colon). For diver-
ticulitis to occur, there must be outpouchings of the
large intestine (diverticulosis). Diverticulitis can be
diagnosed with barium X-rays of the colon or with
sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Antibiotics are usu-
ally needed to treat acute diverticulitis. Liquid or
low-fiber foods are advised during acute diverticuli-
tis attacks. In severe diverticulitis, with high fever
and pain, patients are hospitalized and given intra-
venous antibiotics. Surgery is necessary for persist-
ent bowel obstruction and for abscesses that do not
respond to antibiotics. A high-fiber diet may help
delay the progression of diverticulosis and may pre-
vent or reduce bouts of diverticulitis. See also 
diver-
ticulosis.
diverticulosis
The condition of having divertic-
ula, small outpouchings from the large intestine
(colon). Diverticulosis can occur anywhere in the
colon but is most typical in the sigmoid colon, the S-
shaped segment of the colon located in the lower-
left part of the abdomen. The incidence of
diverticulosis increases with age. As a person ages,
the walls of the colon weaken, and this weakening
permits the formation of diverticula. By age 80,
most people have diverticulosis. Diverticulosis sets
the stage for inflammation and infection of the
diverticula (diverticulitis). A diet that is high in fiber
keeps the bowels moving, keeps the pressure in the
colon within normal limits, and slows or stops the
formation of diverticula. See also 
diverticulitis.
diverticulum
A small bulging sac that pushes out-
ward from the bowels. The plural is diverticula. As a
person ages, pressure within the large intestine
(colon) causes diverticula. Diverticula can occur
throughout the colon but are most common near the
end of the S-shaped segment of the colon located in
the lower-left part of the abdomen (the sigmoid
colon). See also 
diverticulitis; diverticulosis.