Loren G. Martin, professor of physiology at Oklahoma State University, replies:
"For years, the appendix was credited with very little physiological function. We now know, however, that the appendix serves an important role in the fetus and in young adults. Endocrine cells appear in the appendix of the human fetus at around the 11th week of development. These endocrine cells of the fetal appendix have been shown to produce various biogenic amines and peptide hormones, compounds that assist with various biological control (homeostatic) mechanisms. There had been little prior evidence of this or any other role of the appendix in animal research, because the appendix does not exist in domestic mammals.
"Among adult humans, the appendix is now thought to be involved primarily in immune functions. Lymphoid tissue begins to accumulate in the appendix shortly after birth and reaches a peak between the second and third decades of life, decreasing rapidly thereafter and practically disappearing after the age of 60. During the early years of development, however, the appendix has been shown to function as a lymphoid organ, assisting with the maturation of B lymphocytes (one variety of white blood cell) and in the production of the class of antibodies known as immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies. Researchers have also shown that the appendix is involved in the production of molecules that help to direct the movement of lymphocytes to various other locations in the body.
"In this context, the function of the appendix appears to be to expose white blood cells to the wide variety of antigens, or foreign substances, present in the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, the appendix probably helps to suppress potentially destructive humoral (blood- and lymph-borne) antibody responses while promoting local immunity. The appendix--like the tiny structures called Peyer's patches in other areas of the gastrointestinal tract--takes up antigens from the contents of the intestines and reacts to these contents. This local immune system plays a vital role in the physiological immune response and in the control of food, drug, microbial or viral antigens. The connection between these local immune reactions and inflammatory bowel diseases, as well as autoimmune reactions in which the individual's own tissues are attacked by the immune system, is currently under investigation.
"In the past, the appendix was often routinely removed and discarded during other abdominal surgeries to prevent any possibility of a later attack of appendicitis; the appendix is now spared in case it is needed later for reconstructive surgery if the urinary bladder is removed. In such surgery, a section of the intestine is formed into a replacement bladder, and the appendix is used to re-create a 'sphincter muscle' so that the patient remains continent (able to retain urine). In addition, the appendix has been successfully fashioned into a makeshift replacement for a diseased ureter, allowing urine to flow from the kidneys to the bladder. As a result, the appendix, once regarded as a nonfunctional tissue, is now regarded as an important 'back-up' that can be used in a variety of reconstructive surgical techniques. It is no longer routinely removed and discarded if it is healthy.
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19 Comments
Add CommentThat is very interesting. I was always under the impression that the appendix did virtually nothing.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am 24 and just had my appendix taken out a week ago because my omentum had wrapped itself around the appendix and was causing severe discomfort. My appendix was fine but the surgeon told me that it had no function so he took it out along with a small portion of my omentum to prevent appendicitis in the future. I wish that I would have seen this article before going to the emergency room...My appendix was definitely "routinely removed and discarded" even though it was healthy.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am 24 and went to the emergency room one week ago for severe abdominal pain in the lower right portion of my abdomen and ended up having my appendix removed. The problem that I have with this article is that it says that the appendix is "no longer routinely removed and discarded if it is healthy." It turned out that my appendix was fine and that my omentum had wrapped itself around my appendix. The surgeon found this out after he had cut me open and when I woke up, he told me that he took out a portion of my omentum and while he was in there, he also took my appendix because "it serves no function." Kind of makes me wish that I would have read this article before going into the hospitol. Also makes me question the competence and integrity of my surgeon...But then, on the other hand, how valid of a source is this? Sure it's a physiology professor writing it but where did he get his information from? I don't see and sources cited.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf anybody has any words of advice, I would certainly appreciate it.
I have experienced these upper right abdominal pains for 5 yrs, it took 2 yrs to get a dr to see me, he said he would go by symptoms. Well he decided I have ibs. Only now I have had a second attack with full abdominal pain and had to drive myself to the penticton hospital to find after being in to see my dr that I have appenicitis. Well after the operation the first thing I heard was, "that was very, very bad, I hope we got it all, now we know for sure she has cancer in the bowel." Scared me, then specialist on the gynecology ward where they stuck me said it had perforated, spilled ooze out and cacooned itself. The lab cut it open & a chunk broke off, the appendix was hollow. It was very sharp, they had laid it on my bare skin belly just below my belly button. It made puncture marks. A nurse said it was a rash(i do know the difference). My question is how long does it take for an appendix to heal itself and to say that it broke away from my intestine, they didn't have to cut it away they had to wash and vacuum out my abdomen as it was filled with puss. My regular physician told me not to tell him about my upper r pain, not a word and said my lower ab pain would get looked at a later date, never happened. Was treated like a hypocondriac. First words ever out of the last 3 drs mouths was " you are fat" Well I'm overweight by about 60 not obese and this wasn't pain from being fat if there is such a thing.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJust a big cover up.
Hi I just signed up to this site and was reading your appendix comment.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy dr missed my perferated (their word) appendix for many years. They found it loose in my body cover in a cacoon it made itself. My abdomen was filled with puss and the whole time I was seeing my dr he would just tell me I'm fat and to lose weight. I got fatter even though I wasn't eating. After my operation they would just give me the runaround. I wanted to know how long it takes an appendix to heal itself and cause such problems. My pain in my upper right ab hasn't gone away and I'm still bloated up. I am continuously in this discomfort and would like to sue my dr and the other ones I saw that just chalked it all up to imagination and fat.
I learned that the appendix is important and now understand why the rest of me is still falling apart. You know I started to grow unusual lumps on my bod and my dr said age spots, well some have changed, black dots in the middle of some have dissappeared but I still have the bile problem with the nausea, and I wish that I could eat only when I do I'm full instantly.Want a laugh the specialist that took it out wrote me a note saying that I would not be able to work for 2 weeks. I am still crying, operation was Sept 14. Anyways I guess I am still emotional about it. I wish I could help you with a better answer to your ? but I can see with the appecitus we are lucky to be alive. I am angry about how long I had to live in this pain, missery, working 8hr days 5 a wk while I had it and being told by my physician that he would give me pain killers so I could work Has nobody ever heard of temporary dissability? I was given $600 to live on including rent. rent $600 rent bounced. I am aaannnggrrry. and am sorry to put that in but it's so fresh. Please forgive me. Thanks though. flowerspowers1@yahoo.ca
I was suprised to read this " **There have been no reports of impaired immune or gastrointestinal function in people without an appendix**
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this7 years old = my appendix burst and was removed
shortly after = my health deteriorated, dark skin appeared around my eyes, i became fatigued, i put on excess weight, iw as always ill whereas before, my mum said i was super fit and happy.
This continued, getting worse as i aged, gastric problems and allergy like symptoms -itching from head to toe(with dermographical effect) and hot flux connected to high histamine levels (which i have now figured out and can use antihistamins for, but dont want to) histamine comes from 2 places - mast cells or ECL cells .. figure it must be from the ECL cells connected to my bodies endocrine system.
My high histmine levels are a huge discomfort every hour or so and it disables me.. but i refuse to take antihistamines because they are masking the real problem..
is my GI system compensating for not having an appendix by creating histamine to protect itself ?
I need to get to the bottom of this, i believe in the future appendix transplants will be the norm...when people come forward and the powers that be stop lying about the importance of the appendix
-im availble as a test subject, id die to prove that 90% of the medical world are wrong or lying
mrdavidscott@gmail.com
LOREN, it also interests me greatly that you suggest that the appendix plays a role in both manufacturing hormones in
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisfetal development as well as functioning to "train" the immune system, exposing the body to antigens so that it can produce antibodies
the *train the immune sytem* part interests me the most, since my histamine levels are sky high at most times..and it doesnt let up unless i take antihistamines.. which i dont think are good for me instinctly, because since when taking them..growths appeared on my legs and spots on my chest, upper legs and backareas..not to mention feeling dull and fatigued and having many GI(gastro intestinal) problems
LOREN: i noticed this article is 11 years old, wonder if you have had any success in enlightening people about the necessity of the appendix
Do you know "Zen Macrobiotics"? It says all parts of human body has a function even when nobody knows it; and says that people who lose their appendix live 10 years less (a doctor said to me that it is the contrary. Is there any serious statistics about it?). Note that scientific stablishment does not recognize "Zen Macrobiotics".
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisthats very interesting mabritta, thanks.. ill look into that.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisthe way i see it, i have 3 options - an appendix transplant - find natural remedies to soothe my dysfunctions and last one is basically live in extreme pains because my body is missing a vital part (at present im on the last one.. hence my urgency for a solution)
what is the resemblance of appendix,could it be prevented in starting stage!!or it can be cured by operation only
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI believe the results of an impaired immune system are possible. I have noted that within my circle of friends and family those that have had their appendix removed get sick more often and severly and even more note worthy, have developed leukemia. When having a bone marrow transplant the lack of the immunity provided by the appendix, has resulted in rejection of the transplant. (personal observation and hypothesis)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTo Mr David Scott
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGood luck on finding transplant opportunity! Have tried that a couple of times, in DK, it is not a possible solution. Something is wrong, in my body health, I have been working out, or try to compensate, by working out, for many years. Still VERY skinny, have many gastro problems, body (or intestines) not accepting long term storage of food. Often feeling fatigued, also. Hairy on chest and back, as well, if thats what you mean?! Never thought, that this could have a connection - not proven, though, but odd, yes.
Not as troubled as you, I guess, but enough to not accepting the state of health, been trying to find out, for years, what the h... is wrong. No doctors admit to this.
Hope you come to better terms, though, with the histamines, and constant pain.
Wonder if not many more have some similar problems - know some people with the same history (appendix removed), claiming, that they don't have any problems.. Lucky for them. Surgery like this is done in the lot, all over the world, as I know it. Also makes me wonder, what makes the appendix go nuts, in the first case. Important for at healthy diet, and a strain for good workout, for everyone, with or without appendix. Keep in touch, any news, could be good news. But as I reckon, we just have to live with it, for better or worse.
To Loren G. Martin, professor of physiology at Oklahoma State University:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPart of your last statement from the first paragraph of your article is false.
You state:
"There had been little prior evidence of this or any other role of the appendix in animal research, because the appendix does not exist in domestic mammals. "
Rabbits are domestic and they have an appendix.
Thank you for reading.
To Loren G. Martin, professor of physiology at Oklahoma State University:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDisregard my last comment. I apologize.
After reading more about rabbits, it seems there is a semantics problem. From what I gather, rabbits have a large cecum sometimes called an appendix.
I guess I was splitting hares (pun intended).
I salute you and I sit corrected.
The greater omentum is the "abdominal policeman" it only wraps around inflamed structures, the inflammatory exudate causes the omentum to adhere to the appendix and wrap itself around the infected organ. So, you probably had appendicitis.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI was 6 when I had my appendix removed. I was infected and ruptured when I was in the operating room. I have been fine since. I have no other conditions or side effects relevant to not having an appendix and have enjoyed (and still am) a very healthy life. I virtually never get sick and don't understand why not having this organ would play a part in my health.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI had my appendix removed which was needed. although
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDoctors are definitely way too ready to perform surgery not knowing the root cause of the dysfunction. There are so many instances surgery is not needed. There is definitely a problem with wide spread misinformation about natural remedies for serious problems such as homeopathy and herbs that work much better than pharmaceutical pills that usually have petroleum as their main ingredient. I have used homeopathy for many ails such as ferrum phosphoricum for headaches, the best remedy, or arnica for shock from injury not to mention hot peppers for excessive mucus and blockages. If people only knew these beautiful remedies at their grasp society would not me so sad about disease and maladies.
Happiness to all,
Informed Dude
Just further confirmation that every body part serves a purpose and fortunately the medical community came to its senses about the appendix. If only they would do the same thing with regard to the male prepuce.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI believe all parts of the body serve a purpose. I had my appendix removed at the age of 10 years, I am now 44 yrs old. And Since that time, I have been plagued with allergies (hay fever), eczema, irregular bowel movements, acid reflux, stomach cramps when certain foods are eaten, lactose intolerant, and halitosis (bad breath). I have tried every drug and natural method to overcome these alignments. I have been a vegetarian for over 25 years (eat only seafood, but not poultry or red meat), juice vegetables & fruits on a regular basis and exercise 3-4 days a week. After reading this article, I am confident that none of the above alignments would occur if I had my appendix.
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