A 2-month-old female with Down syndrome is diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease following chronic constipation. The most likely cause of these symptoms is a malformation in the:

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Hirschsprung disease is a congenital disorder of the parasympathetic nervous system resulting in absent ganglion cells in the distal colon, leading to chronic constipation. Down syndrome is a known risk factor for Hirschsprung disease. The other options (central nervous system, sympathetic nervous system, and somatic nervous system) are not directly involved in the pathophysiology of Hirschsprung disease.

A 2-Month-Old Female with Down Syndrome Is Diagnosed with Hirschsprung