What is the point of the human appendix?

Question

sanny - you could say that to almost everybody who asks anything here, and yes, you would have a good point. Perhaps I'm curious about other people's views on top of basic facts??

Answer 1

Based on my own small collection of empirical data. I believe it probably has something to do with either the breakdown of cellulose (which is very difficult, herbivores often have to re-eat their food), or the neutralising of the plant toxins designed to fend off predators.
The koala has one of the largest appendixes, and they exclusively eat a poisonous leaf.
We most likely do not require our appendage, as we do not eat uncooked cellulose rich toxic plants anymore.

Answer 2

The function of the human appendix which is known in science as the vermiform appendix, is still yet disputed. Some scientists have cases that it may have played an important role in the immune system, and yet others debate whether it's role was played in part of food digestion paticularly.

Answer 3

The tissues of the walls of the appendix are filled with cells that belong to the Mucosa Associated Lymphatic Tissue (MALT). These cells are found along the intestine and act to destroy any bacteria or other nasty bugs that get absorbed into the walls of the intestine along with the nutrients.
Non-ruminant animals that rely on more plant-based diets (ie. rodents, birds) typically have a larger population of bacteria in their gut and specifically in the section of gut called the caecum. Our caecum has gotten smaller over the thousands of centuries of evolution away from plant based diets and the appendix is a remanant of this caecum. We still have a caecum (the 1st part of our large intestine) but it does not serve the same purpose as it once did (site of bacterial breakdown of plant material). The appendix although removed from its original role as part of the caecum still plays a vital role in protecting our bodies from bacterial invasion.

Answer 4

The human appendix is an organ in our body that used to help process our food.(Like an extra liver.) But now that humans in today's society are eat healthier, there is no need for the appendix.

Answer 5

the appendix was responsible for the digestion of loads of green vegetables we human being used to eat in the early times, but now we don't eat that much of green diet as animals do, then we don't need appendix, but the appendix in animals namely monkeys is very active and works round the clock to digest all the vegetables the animals are eating them. the existence of the appendix in human and monkeys and its useless presence in human now was one of Charles Darwin's proved facts for the idea of evolution, apparently we used to be monkeys i look like one i don't know about you hhhhhhhh.

Answer 6

the human appendix is a vestigial organ
( it was an extra stomach )
with change of diet =Over many years,
it has become redundant

So it is no loss, to be without an appendix

>^,,^<

Answer 7

It was used to digest bones when people used to eat them. now since people no longer eat the bones there is no use for them. some people are born with small or without an appendix.

Answer 8

As our diets have evolved it has been rendered useless. It used to have purpose in the digestion of some of the nuts, seeds and berries that man consumed, but as our diets have adapted it has become unnecessary.

Answer 9

It is used to take the poisons out of raw meat

Answer 10

scientists speculate that in early primates,
the appendex was an organ that helped the immune system
the organ now is vestigial, meaning it is not used