At Last, The Mystery of the Human Appendix’s Function Unveiled by Scientists
For a long time, the appendix was considered useless. But researchers have finally unveiled its true purpose, and it’s far from being an obsolete organ.
Scientists now believe that the appendix serves as a sanctuary for good bacteria. When diseases like dysentery or cholera wipe out these crucial gut bacteria, the appendix helps to “reboot” the digestive system.
In the past, people thought the appendix was just a leftover from evolution, no longer serving a function. Doctors often recommended removing it, and many who had theirs taken out didn’t seem to suffer any negative effects.
Research from Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina revealed that after severe cases of cholera or dysentery, which cleanse the gut of important bacteria, the appendix helps repopulate the gut with good bacteria.
However, Professor Bill Parker advises that this new knowledge doesn’t mean we should avoid appendix removal if it becomes inflamed. “Just because the appendix has a function, it doesn’t mean you should keep it if it gets inflamed,” he said. “It’s an interesting discovery, but we want to avoid any harm. People shouldn’t skip the doctor just because their appendix has a purpose.”
Nicholas Vardaxis, an associate professor at RMIT University, supports the theory from the Duke team. He thinks the idea that the appendix serves as a refuge for beneficial bacteria makes sense.
He added, “Looking at evolution, as animals became more omnivorous, the appendix became smaller and less critical. Humans are a perfect example of this. The bacteria in the appendix and our gut are the same, so the appendix no longer serves that safe house role.”
Scientists were led to this discovery by studying koalas, which have long appendices that help them digest eucalyptus leaves. Although humans and koalas have similar functions for their appendices, it’s unlikely the koala’s appendix will shrink soon because their diet remains consistent.
Vardaxis pointed out that the human appendix shrank over thousands of years as our diets changed. If any species currently has a larger appendix and their diet changes significantly, they might also experience a reduction in appendix size over generations. Koalas might also suffer from appendicitis and need theirs removed, just like humans.
