What condition is associated with a lack of Meissner and Auerbach plexus?

• A. Intussusception
• B. Hirschsprung disease
• C. Meckel diverticulum
• D. Meconium ileus

Answer: (B)

Hirschsprung disease is characterized by the absence of nerve cells (ganglia) in a segment of the bowel, specifically involving the Meissner (submucosal) and Auerbach (myenteric) plexuses. This absence leads to an inability of the affected segment of the colon to relax, which results in a functional obstruction. The lack of these plexuses prevents proper peristalsis, causing fecal accumulation and distension of the proximal bowel. Clinically, this manifests primarily in neonates with symptoms of constipation and abdominal distension after birth, known as the inability to pass meconium within the first 48 hours.

In context, while intussusception is a condition where a part of the intestine telescopes into an adjacent segment, it does not relate to the absence of plexuses. Meckel diverticulum, a congenital anomaly in the small intestine, is characterized by an outpouching that typically does not involve nerve plexus issues. Meconium ileus, commonly seen in cystic fibrosis patients, represents a blockage in the intestines due to thickened meconium, but it also is not related to the absence of Meissner and Auerbach plexuses. Therefore