What is a defining characteristic of diverticulosis?

Diverticulosis is primarily characterized by the presence of diverticula, which are small pouches that form in the muscular wall of the large intestine (colon). These pouches arise when pressure within the colon builds up, often due to factors such as a low-fiber diet, which can lead to weakened areas in the intestinal wall.

As the muscular wall of the large bowel becomes weakened or defective over time, these diverticula can form, resulting in the progressive nature of the condition. While diverticulitis, which involves inflammation of these pouches, is a complication of diverticulosis, it is not a defining characteristic of the condition itself.

In the context of this question, the defining characteristic is the structural aspect of diverticulosis—specifically, the progressive development of the muscular wall defects that lead to the formation of diverticula. Other options, while related to diverticulosis or its complications, do not specifically describe what characterizes the disease itself at its foundational level.