Medical Dictionary

Hirschsprung's disease

noun Hirsch·sprung's disease \ ˈhirsh-ˌpru̇ŋz- \

medical Definition of Hirschsprung's disease

: megacolon that is caused by congenital absence of ganglion cells in the muscular wall of the distal part of the colon with resulting loss of peristaltic function in this part and dilatation of the colon proximal to the aganglionic part — called also congenital megacolon

Biographical Note for hirschsprung's disease

Hirschsprung, Harold (1830–1916), Danish pediatrician. Hirschsprung published a number of important papers on children's diseases, describing such conditions as pyloric stenosis, intussusception, and rickets. As chief physician at a children's hospital in Copenhagen, he noted certain cases of constipation in infants due to enlargement of the colon. He published his description of congenital megacolon in 1888.