What is the medical term for the invagination of the bowel?

The medical term for the invagination of the bowel is indeed intussusception. This condition occurs when a segment of the intestine telescopes into an adjacent segment, leading to obstruction and potential compromise of blood supply to the affected bowel segment. Intussusception is often characterized by abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and the possible presence of a palpable abdominal mass in children.

In terms of the other options: volvulus refers to a twisting of the bowel, diverticulitis involves inflammation of diverticula (small pouches that can form in the intestinal wall), and appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix. Each of these conditions has distinct pathophysiological processes and implications, unlike intussusception, which specifically involves the telescoping of bowel segments.