What term describes a recess or sacculation in the walls of the ascending and transverse colon?

• A. Haustra
• B. Intussusception
• C. Crohn disease
• D. Malrotation

Answer: (A)

Haustra describes recesses or sacculations in the walls of the large intestine, especially prominent in the ascending and transverse colon. These sacculations are formed by the taeniae coli – bands of smooth muscle that create segmented pockets as the colon distends and moves contents along. This segmented appearance is a normal feature of the colon and helps with mixing and propulsion of contents. In contrast, intussusception is a telescoping of one bowel segment into another, Crohn disease is an inflammatory condition with transmural involvement and skip lesions, and malrotation is an embryologic abnormality of gut rotation. Therefore, the term for these recesses in the colon walls is haustra.