*The exacta causes…the exacta*
What’s up, guys! Myself with another video to answer your burning questions about science. Stavros Yika wonders, why do we have an appendix? So let’s find out.
First of all, what is an appendix? Well, aside from being a sectional table of subsidiary matter at the end of a book or document, it’s a tube shaped sack attached to the lower end of the large intestine. As well as humans, a few other animals, like koalas and rabbits have an appendix, and this is to help digest their plant based diet. In humans, however, the appendix was thought to be a vestigial organ for many years. Wait, vestigial?
Vestigial organ is an organ which has become small, and lost its use due to evolutionary change. And as the human diet has changed over time, the team at Midwestern University in Arizona have found that the appendix has evolved independently at least 32 times. But in recent years, scientists have alluded to an answer for this mysterious organ. They now believe they act as a safe house for the good bacteria in the gut. We all know that having good bacteria in the gut is beneficial. And that’s how these probiotic drinks make their money. These good bacteria help train the immune system against harmful bacteria, and also stop these harmful bacteria from colonizing the gut. But sometimes, the good bacteria can get overrun by the bad bacteria, like cholera, dysentery. And in these cases, the good bacteria is thought to retreat back to the appendix until the immune system has fought the infection. And then it recolonizes the gut. So this is great, we found a meaning for the appendix. Is it there to stay? Well, not quite.
The appendix has a more well known and sinister side to it. It can sometimes get inflamed, resulting in appendicitis. The exact causes of appendicitis aren’t really known. But it’s thought to be down to a blockage of the appendix, most commonly by a small piece of feces, or a swollen lymph node. This leads to swelling of the appendix from the increased pressure and bacterial growth. And in extreme cases, it can even burst. It’s actually pretty common though. 1 in 13 people in the UK will develop appendicitis at some point in their lives. So how do we treat it?
The usual ways are either antibiotics or having it removed surgically. And doctors used to even advise having it taken out just in case of appendicitis striking. That’s pretty drastic! And now that we know that has a use, why not just leave it in there? And that difference is a story of the appendix to date.
I hope you enjoyed this little tour through the vestigial anatomy. Like and share this video and subscribe to my channel for more science tidbits. And if you fancy more or this, check out my previous videos. Social media links are in the description box. So why not take a wonder for some more science news? And let me know what gets you pondering in the comments below. Thanks for watching. Have a wonderful day.
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