Is the Appendix Useless?

Those who have at one point or the other had appendectomy (surgical removal of the appendix) would have probably received a consolation that the appendix is useless and it is doing nothing where it is located in the body. After all, people who have had this surgical procedure live a normal and healthy life.

Before I proceed, let me give a brief description of the appendix. The appendix has been described as a blind intestinal diverticulum about 6-10cm in length that arises from the posterior and medial aspect of the caecum below the ileocaecal junction. However, position of the appendix is variable.

 

Because the appendix is blind ended, it has a very small volume capacity and frequently becomes a site of inflammation (appendicitis). Appendicitis is frequently caused by a faecalith, enlarged lymph follicles (associated with viral infection, tumor, worms) and ulceration of the mucosa.

The appendix has been described as a vestigial organ which it is because it is very effective in the digestive process in lower mammals like rabbits where it performs the role of cellulose digestion. However, along the evolutionary process, this function is lost in human.

In humans, the appendix contains some lymphoid follicles within its walls playing an immune role in the digestive system. The role, no matter how insignificant it might be should not be neglected anytime we attempt to classify the appendix as either useless or useful. For example, if one undergoes a splenectomy (surgical removal of the spleen), that does not produce a serious effect particularly in adults because other reticuloendothelial organs like the liver and bone marrow would cover up for the role of the spleen, although, there would be a greater susceptibility to bacterial infection but the patient can still live a normal life.

 

1. Despite the fact that patients that have undergone appendectomy still live healthy lives, does not mean that the appendix is useless. Let us keep in mind that the appendix is not the only component of the intestine having lymphoid follicles. The immune function of the lymphoid follicles in the appendix have made some authors to refer to the appendix as a functional/useful vestige. A vestige, because its function in digestion (cellulose digestion) is lost.