If we can survive without our appendix, why do we have them in the first place?

Answer 1

It's evolution, once at one time, we needed it for our survial. Over time however, our bodies evolved to survive our envioment and gradaully, our bodies learned not to use the appendix anymore. It has now become some forgotten part that the body can survive without. And yet, it's still there to remind us of how far we have come in this world.

Wow, Now where did that come from? XD

Answer 2

It's debatable, some people believe that the appendix used to be larger when early humans consumed more plants than meat (the bacteria in the appendix helped digest the cellulose in plants that we couldn't digest ourselves). Since then, the appendix hasn't been as useful, and is now what is know as a vestigial organ, something we posses from an ancestor that no longer serves an evolutionary function (it's the same thing as the small leg bones that you find in whales that used to be legs, but now have dwindled to a small size).

Answer 3

Your body can adjust to many different things. You can actually have half of your brain removed and it will adjust to the change and the person will still be able to function, though it may take a while. Even scientists and doctors were not sure what the appendix was for until a recent study I heard about. The article said that they appendix is actually supposed to help with immunity.

Answer 4

We used to think that the appendix was purely vestigial - a leftover, but now not useful, organ.

New studies have suggested that the appendix harbors populations of common intestinal bacteria. These populations may serve to repopulate the digestive tract after something has killed off the bacteria in the intestine. It would be a faster way of getting the intestinal flora back instead of waiting to pick them up through environmental contact.

Personally, I think it's something we still have to learn about. I can see where the appendix can be vestigial, left over from our ancestors who ate rougher plant material than we do. The appendix may not have its original purpose any more, or any purpose at all. It's just not gone yet.

As far as surviving without - I could survive without my fingernails, but life is lots easier with fingernails. My son is quadriplegic as a result of an accident. He survives without use of his appendages, but it was definitely easier with them.

Answer 5

Isn't it because we are related to animals. When we used to live on a diet of grass and shrubs etc (a million moons ago) then we required our appendix, but as we have evolved then it has shrunk and now is useless. Look at a diagram of a rabbits digestive sysyem and you'll see what I mean.

Answer 6

The appendix contains bacteria for breaking down clorophyl, as we are no longer mainly vegetarian in diet and have became omniverous, we have very little need for it and can survive on foods that have no clorophyl barrier.

Answer 7

Hi, funny you should ask. There was actually a new article on that. They think they have found the reason too. Our ansestors used theirs to digest hard food like bark. And they believe that over time it will dissapear. They are actually finding that some people are born without them!

But another reason is that it helps our immune system.

Read this for more info. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/health/orl-healthcheck1607oct16,0,33626.column

Answer 8

A therory is that they are a remnant of a cecum. The latest research seems they are there to produce the good kind of bacteria to help digest our food. The gut can do it on it's own though hense we don't need them.
Its part of the 'if it doesn't kill us' we pass that gene on.

Answer 9

As humans have developed over time other organs have become capable of doing the apendix's job. THerefore evolution has just caused it to be useless, however it is still in our DNA to have one.

Answer 10

from the article and latest research, that appendix is related to our immune system, it help us to keep our body healhty..