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You don't need appendix. It is a vestigial structure that only might get in your way if it becomes inflamed.

However, recent research shows that it creates helpful bacteria.

  • Researchers at Duke University Medical Center say that the function of the frequently discarded appendix, an organ often credited with little importance and often dismissed as having no significant function, does it all;the appendix produces and protects good germs for the gut by "rebooting" the digestive system.
  • However the researchers say sometimes the bacteria die off or are purged from the intestines as in diseases such as cholera or dysentery. According to the researchers, the appendix's job is to "reboot" the digestive system when that happens with the bacteria safely harbored in the appendix.
  • It was once believed that when the human passed gas it caused the appendix to twist and release bacteria ... but that rumor was dissmissed
  • Many doctors believe the appendix is a vestigial organ with no function and is no more than a blind ended tube connected to the cecum, from which it develops embryologically.he cecum is a pouch-like structure of the colon and the appendix is near the junction of the small intestine and the large intestine and has abundant infection-fighting lymphoid cells, which suggests it plays a role in the immune system.
  • The most common diseases of the appendix (in humans) are appendicitis and carcinoid tumors. Appendix cancer accounts for about 1 in 200 of all gastrointestinal malignancies.Appendicitis is a condition where the the appendix becomes inflamed and in almost all cases it is removed either by laparotomy or laparoscopy; left untreated, the appendix will rupture, leading to peritonitis, then shock, and, if continued untreated, death. The appendix is routinely removed without any notable ill effects or side effects and the scientists stress that even though the appendix seems to have a function, people should still have them removed when they are inflamed because since leaving it untreated could be fatal.
  • Dr. Bill Parker, a professor of surgery and one of the scientists responsible for establishing its status as a useful organ, says the function of the appendix seems related to the massive amount of bacteria that populates the human digestive system and where it is located just below the normal one-way flow of food and germs in the large intestine, helps support that theory.

The study appears in the online edition of the Journal of Theoretical Biology.

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14y ago

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Appendix differences in human and cat?

There is a major difference between an appendix in a human and a cat. Namely, cats do not have an appendix, while people do. The appendix has no use within the body, but can sometimes become infected and will need to be removed.


Do people need appendix to have babies?

No, the human body can still work properly without the appendix. My mother has no appendix. It was removed 2 years before i was born.I hope this answer has been of much use to you.


Do you put the appendix in a table of contents of a book?

Yes. It is necessary as there may be many appendices such as Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C and so on. They need to be enunciated after a ':' mark.


Do you really need your appendix?

yes and no


When appendix word use in English language?

The appendix is part of the human body. If it becomes inflamed you will be need to see a doctor promptly.An appendix is part of a book or paper where extra or supplementary information is placed.


What can happen if you don't get an appendectomy?

If you need an appendectomy but keep postponing having your appendix removed, your appendix could rupture, and if you don't find a surgeon and a doctor in a hurry, a ruptured appendix, which causes peritonitis, could be fatal.


When do you need to get your appendix out?

When it ruptures most of the time is when your suppose to get it out. Other then that you can leave it in.


How do you reference an appendix?

Appendix is the optional page. It is used to present unpublished tests. In the APA format works cited each appendix should appear on each page. People can differentiate appendixes by "Appendix 1" and "Appendix 2".


Do you need your apendix?

No, you don't need your appendix as in the cavemen era they needed their appendix to take away the bad stuff when they ate meat as it was raw. But as we have pans etc we dont need it because all the bad stuff has been taken away.


Does your appendix get smaller?

As people age, the appendix does tend to become smaller and less prominent. This is because the tissue in the appendix may shrink or become replaced by fatty deposits. However, even if the appendix gets smaller, it can still become inflamed or infected, leading to appendicitis.


Why do people get their appendix taken out?

If the appendix gets blocked by a bit of faecal matter (poo) then it can get inflammed and infected. It can then really easily burst into your abdominal cavity and get infected. That infection can then get into your blood, causing it to become infected. You can potentially die from it.


How do you know you need your appendix removed?

You experience symptoms such as pain in the stomache, Vomitting, A lot of gas, etc. If you think that you might need to have your appendix removed, u should most likely see a doctor even if you dont think you need it removed.