what's the real function of appendix?

Question

please tell me the latest function found by scientist all about appendix expecially its function, because my teacher told me that it has no function. Thanks!!!

Answer 1

The appendix is a vestigial organ, meaning that it has no function. However, it is believed that the appendix had a large role in breaking down cellulose when primitive humans ate only plants. Cellulose is indigestible and is usually just passed straight through our bodies (it is what we call "fiber" or "roughage"). Plants are rich in cellulose, so when we were herbivores, we needed the appendix to break it down so we could use it for energy. As we evolved to eat meat, our bodies evolved to break it down for energy instead, because it is much more efficient.

Answer 2

Scientists have not found any function of the appendix (yet). However, that doesn't keep them from investigating.

"Currently, the function of the appendix, if any, remains controversial in the field of human physiology.

There have been cases of people who have been found, usually on laparoscopy or laparotomy, to have a congenital absence of their appendix. There have been no reports of impaired immune or gastrointestinal function in these people." (Wikipedia)


google it if you want a lot of information. You can also check out the Wikipedia page for an overview and links to further references.

Answer 3

I don't think it has one exactly.



Adding this:
I just looked this up:

Currently, the function of the appendix, if any, remains controversial in the field of human physiology.

There have been cases of people who have been found, usually on laparoscopy or laparotomy, to have a congenital absence of their appendix. There have been no reports of impaired immune or gastrointestinal function in these people.

One explanation has been that the appendix is a vestigial structure with no current purpose

Answer 4

It has long been thought that the human appendix was a vestigial organ, with no purpose or function in modern times.

However, recently it has been found that the appendix is actually able to store and reassemble diced carrots and kernels of corn.

It stores these items until the next time you puke, and then sends them out to be mixed in with your emesis. This is why you may see little bits of diced carrots and corn in your vomit, even if you haven't eaten diced carrots or corn for years, and no matter how well you chewed them when you ate them, they are still fully intact.

Exactly why the appendix does this, and why tequila usually seems to be involved in the process is a question that scientists are frantically trying to avoid studying.

Answer 5

In the human body, as far as I know, and as far as my Science lessons are concerned, there is no use for the appendix. However, in other plant-eating mammals, for instance your normal, everyday rabbit, it serves some use in digesting the grass - maybe if you eat nothing but grass all day you'll find that it's too hard to digest all the nutrients - which is one reason why rabbits eat their droppings - to digest the nutrients left in the grass. This is probably the same reason why they use their appendix, but it's mostly speculation.

Answer 6

It helped the immune system. Back in the caveman days, humans would eat all kinds of things that would kill us today. The appendix helped protect us, but we don't need it anymore because we're not eating raw meat and twigs.

Answer 7

It has no function. It's believed that it once had one but the need went away and so over time it shrank and stopped working. It was lost in evolution.

Actually it does have a new function... To get infected, cause extreme pain, and in worst cases burst and kill people.

Here. Wikipedia has your answer...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermiform_appendix

Answer 8

Without a source to attribute I learned that this appendage (I hope this is what you mean), a part of the human digestive tract, now in evolutionary regression, once played a role in storing or holding indigestible dirt or sand that accompanied the things our ancestors put in their mouths and ate eons ago.

Answer 9

It may have early immunological function

Answer 10

I think I heard before that its used to digest grass.
I don't believe it though...