What is the main function of the appendix?

Answer 1

In college text books they do not acknowledge that the appendix has any valuable function. However lets think about it because these are the facts:

The appendix stores seeds that you eat and it is part of the digestive tract to absorb nutrients and fluid. Seeds are loaded with nutritional value. They take longer to absorb.

If you give your appendix nutrient rich seeds you will have a healthy appendix.

If you do something like eat a lot of cooked black pepper this will irritate your appendix cause inflammation and possibly a bursted appendix. This is because of the chemical change with cooked black pepper as a seed that occurs after cooking not in it's raw state.

Answer 2

The issue of the purpose of the appendix remains a matter of considerable debate. It is known that the appendix can be removed without causing any long-term adverse effects for the patient. However, some researchers and members of the medical profession believe the appendix may still serve some purpose within the immune system, or as part of the lymphatic system.

There is also a belief among others that the appendix is just a remainder from a time thousands of years ago when people needed a slightly different digestive system, when they ate more rough vegetation, thereby requiring the extra organ to help break down the roughage. A modern example of the need for a well-developed appendix is the koala: eucalyptus leaves are very hard to break down and the koala has a highly developed appendix to help in the digestion of these virtually indigestible leaves. For humans, who do not need it for this purpose, the appendix is regarded as a "vestigial organ".

In 2007, American researchers reported that they had discovered the true purpose of the appendix. The claim was that the appendix harboured a supply of good bacteria which, in effect, could be used to "reboot" the gut following a case of dysentery, cholera or similar intestinal disease. For more information, see the related link below.

Recent discoveries have found that the appendix regulates hormone and energy balance as well.

Some scientists believe that the appendix is a source of immunologic cells, whereas others believe that the appendix is merely a vestigial organ (and of no use to humans any longer).

Answer 3

The main function of the appendix is still not fully understood, but it is believed to play a role in the immune system by storing good bacteria that help fight infections in the gut. It may also have a role in maintaining gut health and regulating inflammation.

Answer 4

The appendix has always been said to have no function, until recently. Doctors have discovered that the appendix acts as a housing place for the good bacteria in our digestive tract.

Answer 5

Many people think it is useless but others disagree. It produces and protects good germs for your gut.