What does your Apendex do for your body??

Question

I had it took out and I was just wondering

Answer 1

Some people argue that the appendix serves no purpose. These people say that this was an area for further food digestion. Food would sit there and complex sugars that we do not possess enzymes for would be broken down here by bacteria inside our colon; similar to ruminant animals (eg. cows and deer).

Other people argue that there is evidence that the appendix has a connection with the immune system. It is located at the junction between the ilium (small intesting) and the beginning of the colon (cecum). They maintain that the bacterial count is quite high in the colon especially in comparison to the ilium. These people feel that the appendix serves as a defense mechanism for the body to keep bacteria of the colon from entering the ilium.

Just as anything in science, there are points of evidence for both sides just as there are problems behind each theory.

My personal opinion, the appendix serves no real purpose. Even if the latter is true, we live in symbiosis (mutualism) with the bacteria of our digestive tract, and for people like us - those not having an appendix (mine removed due to chrons disease) - there is no additional problems posed due to the lack of the appendix.

Answer 2

It doesn't do anything for you anymore...

But, I think, it was used in the past to help your body digest raw meats, bark, and stuff that you wouldn't eat today.

Answer 3

it has enzymes used to break down raw meat but our body's cannot handle raw meat anymore do to an adaptation so it is pointless

Answer 4

It was for quite a while believed to be essentially useless to us anymore, serving no function within the body other than to dress up and look pretty. I heard of some research that came out this past year or so that may indicate the appendix has its role in your immune system and particularly may aid those who suffer severe full body burns to recover more efficiently. I never knew the name of the papers nor the source really other then some random comment within class.

In any case considering you and many others are still alive more than a few weeks following removal you can see that its role is not entirely clear or noticeable. There is a chance, though, that the appendix and tonsils serve greater roles in properly regulating your immune system but with evidence being slow in coming at best. You aren't missing much but apparently doctors aren't so scalpel-happy to remove it anymore.  

Answer 5

Provides a steady income stream for abdominal surgery teams.

Answer 6

For current humans, nothing, except get infected.

Back when it was useful it harbored intestinal flora (bacteria) which helps us digest certain foods. If you had a violent case of diarrhea your flora could be flushed out and die. When the human population was much smaller it would be very difficult to resupply these flora. But we're a social animal now so there isn't really a situation where we would permanantly lose all flora so the appendix has wasted away into a piece of spaghetti. Some animals still have functional appendix and it is quite large compared to our little spaghetti noodle :)

Answer 7

It is an intestinal bacteria storage center.

Once it was thought to be useless, and the remnant of an old organ that we evolved away from.  However, now we know that it has a purpose.

According to Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apendix

"In anatomy, a section at the end of an organ; in particular the:

    * Vermiform appendix (often referred to as simply the "appendix"), a part of the human digestive system."

According to Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermiform_a...

"In human anatomy, the appendix (or vermiform appendix; also cecal (or caecal) appendix; also vermix) is a blind ended tube connected to the cecum (or caecum), from which it develops embryologically. The cecum is a pouch-like structure of the colon. The appendix is near the junction of the small intestine and the large intestine.

The term "vermiform" comes from Latin and means "worm-like in appearance"...

The appendix averages 10 cm in length, but can range from 2 to 20 cm. The diameter of the appendix is usually between 7 and 8 mm. The longest appendix ever removed measured 26 cm in Zagreb, Croatia....

The most common explanation is that the appendix is a vestigial structure with no absolute purpose."

However recent science says that the bacteria found in our guts to help us digest food may be killed off by some sickness and if that happens then the bacteria stored in the appendix can re-colonize the gut.

If it is a store house for bacteria then you can see why it can easily get infected and in a few cases it swells too much and has to be removed.

You should be able to live your life normally without your appendix, your internal bacteria can be re-cultured for you from anyone else if you need it, but this is almost never done.  Diarrhea could be a problem for you, but only rarely is ALL of our gut bacteria killed.

The article continues:

"Although it was long accepted that the immune tissue, called gut associated lymphoid tissue, surrounding the appendix and elsewhere in the gut carries out a number of important functions, explanations were lacking for the distinctive shape of the appendix and its apparent lack of importance as judged by an absence of side-effects following appendectomy.  William Parker, Randy Bollinger, and colleagues at Duke University proposed that the appendix serves as a haven for useful bacteria when illness flushes those bacteria from the rest of the intestines. This proposal is based on a new understanding of how the immune system supports the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria, in combination with many well-known features of the appendix, including its architecture and its association with copious amounts of immune tissue. Such a function is expected to be useful in a culture lacking modern sanitation and healthcare practice, where diarrhea may be prevalent. Current epidemiological data  show that diarrhea is one of the leading causes of death in developing countries, indicating that a role of the appendix as an aid in recovering beneficial bacteria following diarrhea may be extremely important in the absence of modern health and sanitation practices."

Answer 8

Nothing!  Doesn't that make you feel better lol so far scientists have not discovered a use for the Apendex.  Its just there haha.  However, I did hear something on the news that they may think it helps break down enzymes or something.  (That come from food)  I'm pretty sure thats what they said.