Oct 08: The appendix in our body was till now considered as vestigial, useless organ but a group of immunologist from Duke Medical University has researched and got it named under useful one. The research work was published in the online Journal of Theoretical Biology.
The researchers found that the appendix act as a safe house for bacteria that are essential for healthy digestion. Specially in rebooting the digestive system after the host has contracted disease such as amoebic dysentery or cholera, which kills helpful germs as a result the bacteria.
Researchers said that where the population is dense the people tend to pick these bacteria from each other allowing gut organism to regrow without the help from Appendix, unlike when the population was sparse, the appendix used to provide the survivors of epidemic like cholera with useful bacteria.
Bill Parker, one of the researchers said "The function of the appendix seems related to the massive amount of bacteria that populates the human digestive system".
He added “The location of the appendix, just below the normal one-way flow of food and germs in the large intestine, helps support the theory."
Bill Parker termed it as a factory of bacteria, cultivating the good germs.
He said the use of appendix is not needed in a modern industrialized society but in less developed society the appendix may be still useful.
He said the appendix may be another case of an overly hygienic society triggering an overreaction by the body's immune system. The function of the appendix seems related to the massive amount of bacteria populating the human digestive system, according to the study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. There are more bacteria than human cells in the typical body. Most of it is good and helps digest food.
Parker said that even though appendix seems useful one should remove if it is inflamed. Every year hundred of people die of appendicitis.
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It must be removed as if untreated will rupture and may become fatal.
Appendix is known to turn deadly and in some cases, people die of the inflammation. It is often removed by doctors and one can easily survive without it.
Appendix is a blind ended tube connected to the cecum, which is connected to the ascending colon of the large intestine. Biological function of Appendix has always remained conspicuous. Few cases where there is congenital absence of appendix but no report on impaired immune or gastrointestinal function in these people.
The appendix was related to digestive function in primates but over period of time due to less consumption of vegetables the appendix lost its significance and reduced in size.
But earlier researches have shown that it has a function in fetuses and adults. Presence of endocrine cells in appendix on the 11th week foetus suggests homeostatic function. While in adult it acts as a lymphatic organ.
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