Why did God give you an appendix?

Question

The appendix is a 'vestigial organ' - a left over bit that no longer serves its original purpose, that evolution is in the process of removing. When it was larger and fully developed (when we were something between monkeys and humans) it allowed us to digest cellulose (in grass and leaves).

But now it serves no purpose (besides getting inflamed and rupturing, which incidentally would have killed you before modern medicine came along).

The appendix has been found to contain infection fighting 'lymphoid cells' which seems to be the organs only function. Though that is a completely different a much more minor function than as we see it in all other animals with an appendix.

The human appendix is not used for the function in which it was developed. Which, by definition, makes it vestigial.

Some of you obviously didn't read what I wrote. It's vestigial because it no longer serves its main purpose. The secondary purpose still exists, and is the main reason (I assume) the organ hasn't been completely removed.

There are non respiratory functions of the lungs for crying out loud. If lungs were in place of the appendix in the situation you'd all be arguing that the lungs filter out blood clots in your veins. That is the SECONDARY function. The main function of the appendix is to digest cellulose. WHICH IT DOESN'T DO.

Answer 1

Actually, recent medical research has discovered that the appendix was used for direct communication with God... until the forefathers of modern atheists purposefully tuned him out, thus angering God so that he stopped talking directly to people...

Turning the appendix into a vestigial organ...

Answer 2

The vermiform appendix is a part of the lymphoid organs alongwith thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, Peyer's patches, tonsils etc. These organs produce B- and T-lymphocytes which participate in fighting infections in the body. The appendix is located at the junction of the small intestine and the large intestine. Small intestine does not contain bacteria whereas the large intestine is loaded with bacteria. With this knowledge it is not difficult to see why the appendix should be there. It is a highly specialized organ with a rich blood supply. We would not expect this if it was a degenerating, useless structure. What about its removal not producing any ill effects? There are other structures in the body that can be safely removed. For example the gall bladder, thymus, one kidney, a part of the liver - none of it would produce any ill effects. This does not mean these organs are not useful. The body has a way of compensating for them. So just because an organ appears small in man compared to other animals does not necessarily mean it is vestigeal. Man and animals eat different kinds of foods and their digestive systems need not be the same. And so I don't think the appendix proves anything in favor of evolution.

Answer 3

The situation's perhaps even more ridiculous than that: the appendix has been useless to us for a very long time, but it's stuck in an evolutionary cul-de-sac.

The tendency of a useless organ is to shrink - simply because a mutant with a smaller or absent one will not be negatively affected by it, and may even derive a small benefit from not having to waste the protein.

In the case of the human appendix, reducing its size also reduces its blood supply, and this has the effect of making it even MORE likely to become infected and blow up.

So the shrinkage tendency is balanced by evolutionary pressure to keep a good blood supply to fight infection.

So we're stuck with it, and may never lose it until we can manipulate our own genes to remove the necessary hox genes.

Interesting to note that, despite all the dangers that they supposedly give rise to, foreskins remain firmly fixed on human males. If they were all that bad, they'd have gone ages ago.

CD

Answer 4

I don't know why God gave me an appendix, but I still have it, and will until I die.

Not knowing what it does for me (probably prevents diseases) does NOT mean there is no reason.

Science may discover it some day.

Why did God give you tonsils? I can ask Him some day.

Frankly, if you don't believe in God, why bother to live?

Why not steal and kill, if you can get away with it? Why bother to tell the truth, if there is no Judge?

Without a wise Creator, there is just no point to life.

To me, we are being tested, like a VERY tough school.

In the after-life, like waking from a nightmare, the trial of earth lives will virtually not have happened, because there is no effect (except MAYBE the memory).

We will love heaven, even though evil and sin are prevented by God, after the hell of this life on earth.

Answer 5

God has nothing to do with you having an appendix. It's a vestigial organ because in the evolution of the human species, we no longer have a need for it. Vestigial organs or limbs are common evolutionary traits in a number of species.

If God really did create human beings with a redundant organ, his design flaws are even greater than I thought.

Answer 6

It has recently been shown by science that the appendix actually serves the purpose of being a reservoir of friendly bacteria, in case we should suffer from some serious disease like say dysentery where everything gets flushed out, the friendly bacteria in the appendix helps restore the function of the gut and stomach and speeds recovery.

Answer 7

Obviously, this is an evolution question, not a spiritual one. You, yourself, state it does not serve its original purpose, which means humans have evolved. Many use the appendix as "proof positive" that man evolved as Darwin claimed, and humans were not created by any God.

Answer 8

Vestigal?

The appendix is part of your beta immune system

This will include your tomsils, spleen, thyroid and appendix

This is why you can loose these organs and still live, but be slighlty more prone to infection, e.g. sore throats if tonsils are removed

nothing vestigal about it

remove your 'vestigal' post anal tail
and you wil be unable to sit, clench your buttocks, or 'hold-on' and prevent yourself from wetting your bed.....well not just your bed

nothing inside you is actually vestigal, so if they are not remnants of evolution....i guess that means they were designed from the get go

Some creo sceintists are offering a lot of money for people to have some of these vestigal organs like the cocxix to be removed but nobody is taking them up on the offer

guess why?

Answer 9

I believe everything in our bodies have a purpose or function, or they won't be there in the first place! Unless it's an abnormal growth. I have learned that the appendix has a part to play with our immune system. Possibly with animals they need larger ones because their systems are slightly different to ours.

I recon, the more things we change and take out of us has an affect on our lives. It seems that people who have major organs taken out, it puts more stress on the body, especially other organs to work harder. People seem to get sick easier and longer. For example l have a friend that have her tonsils, appendix and gallbladder taken out. She gets sick often and for long periods, plus needs avoid certain foods... Fair enough if it's an life or death situation, especially infection that it may have to be taken out...

Answer 10

Actually,it looks like the appendix serves a function after all.Most lists that Ive seen are removing it from vestigial.the journal of theoretical biology just reported a duke university study.It's function is to reboot the body with beneficial bacteria.This is a novel function though.It evolved.