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The Anatomy & Physiology of Hirschsprung's Disease

Hirschsprung's disease is a birth defect affecting the nerve cells in the colon. Babies born with this disease have difficulty passing stool. Bloating, vomiting and a poor appetite are common with Hirschsprung's disease.

  1. Function

    • In looking at the pathological anatomy of the colon in a newborn with Hirschsprung's disease, a segment of the colon is missing ganglion cells. The ganglion cells are necessary to force the colon to push the stool through the digestive process and to the anus.

    Significance

    • According to National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), the normal physiology of the nerve cells grow during the development of the fetus. In Hirschsprung's disease, the cells stop growing before reaching the end of the colon.

    Symptoms

    • According to MedlinePlus, early symptoms--such as failure to pass meconium shortly after birth or to have a stool within 24 to 48 hours, swollen belly and watery diarrhea--are suggestive that the anatomy of the colon is abnormal. Loops of bowel may be felt upon examination.

    More Symptoms

    • Symptoms in older children may include slow growth, poor weight gain and constipation. In mild cases, the symptoms may not be as easy to diagnose as in a severely affected newborn.

    Solution

    • The only solution to correct the anatomy and physiology of Hirschsprung's disease is surgery. The affected part of the colon is removed. According to WebMD, two surgeries may be necessary to complete the procedure. Most children live a normal life, but long-term outcomes vary with complications, such as chronic abdominal pain persisting into adulthood.

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