If we can live without him, why do we have an appendix?

You probably know someone who has had appendicitis - an inflammation of the appendix - has just had a surgical procedure to remove the organ and lives normally without it. Why, then, do we have an appendix if its absence is not harmful to health?

Measuring around 7 centimeters, the tiny organ seems to be perceived only when it causes some kind of problem; After all, if it weren't for the pain, no one would remember the existence of the said whose. And he stands there, close to his colon, halfway between the small and large intestines.

Reserve

It is common for people to think of the appendix as an organ that once had its use there, but which today is insistent only, without much use. This idea came crashing down in 2007, when researchers at Duke University discovered that the appendix is ​​a kind of bag that holds good bacteria, ready to take action if something bad happens to the digestive system.

Prior to this 2007 research, scientists had discovered a slimy membrane that covered the appendix. This membrane contains the same healthy bacteria that are also present in the organ. The difference is that when there is an intestinal problem, such as diarrhea, that membrane is eliminated as well, while the bacteria in the appendix remain safe. Once the gut eliminates everything it needs, the bacteria in the appendix repopulate the spot and prevent dangerous bacteria from acting again.

To the extent that sanitary conditions are good enough to eliminate some types of disease, the bacteria in the appendix can go a lifetime without being used - in such cases, yes, the organ could be considered of little or no use.

Defense

A second survey conducted in 2011 in New York found that the appendix is ​​useful in patients infected with Clostridium difficile bacteria. In people with the appendix, the occurrence of this bacterium occurs in 11%, while among those who removed the organ, the percentage rises to 48. In this second study was observed another usefulness for the neglected organ: to protect the good bacteria and utilize them when the digestive system needs it most.

The appendix is ​​now seen as an extension of our immune system, capable of protecting us against bacterial pathogens. So, will you keep thinking that this important organ is useless?

And what causes appendicitis?

The inflammation can occur due to an obstruction of the organ, either by feces, some foreign body or even a tumor. Symptoms include abdominal pain, including around the navel; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea. If you experience any of these symptoms for a long time, be sure to consult your doctor - especially if the symptoms are accompanied by fever.

* Originally posted on 02/18/2014.