Why do we have an Appendix?

Why do we have an appendix? What does the appendix do?

I'm going to convince you in this video that the appendix is a badass little organ.

YES! It has a function!

As a surgeon one of the most common operations I do every week is a laparoscopic appendectomy...removing a child's appendix.

Very often I'm asked the questions...why do we have an appendix? What is the appendix? What does the appendix do?

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DOES THE APPENDIX DO ANYTHING?

Incorrectly many people think the appendix is just a left over, that it has no function or that it has no purpose.

Wrong.

The appendix DOES have a function, both an immune function and a digestive function.

For example, the appendix sees little feces and is a storage warehouse for healthy commensal bacterial. After a diarrhoeal illness the appendix helps us repopulate the microbiome.

The appendix has a significant immune function with secretory IgA and IgG and helps create a healthy biofilm in the colon.

So don't just chop out the appendix to chop it out!

We're going to cover a few clinical cases as well and at the bottom of the description I'll put the answers so you can check yourself!

Check out these AMAZING timestamps and fast forward if you need to:

Start 00:00
What is the appendix? 01:11
What is the histology of the appendix? 03:33
Why do we have an appendix? 04:30
The appendix and biofilm 10:39
The appendix and disease 14:18

REFERENCES

WHO AM I?
I'm Dr. Erik Pearson, FACS and I am a board certified pediatric surgeon living in Las Vegas. I make surgical education videos on all topics in general surgery as well as talks on lifestyle design as a surgeon, book reviews, and studying effectively. I also write a weekly newsletter called the Saturday Six where I identify Six different discoveries of the week. You can get the weekly newsletter by signing up to the CITIZENSURGEON Community!

DISCLAIMER
While my aim is to help educate you for the ward, the surgical ICU, the operating room and your exams remember these videos are not a replacement for your reading, your medical school and residency preparation and most important your own decision making. If you have medical questions definitely consult a medical professional. Good luck and enjoy!

Affiliate Links - There are a few links in the description that may lead to a kickback to me to help support the channel.

[julia-ftxy]

please kindly continue posting your much appreciated videos Dr Eric thank you

[strawboyever]

keep posting! these videos are saving me on surgical rotations. - thankful MD student

[noraclark]

Interesting that the organ that so many of us lose actually serves a useful purpose. I learned something new today! Wondering when appendectomies became common. My great grandmother died with appendicitis around 1895 and there was no surgery done on her.

[Mohammedamer-pdsb]

Bam citizen surgeon rocks as always! I wish that my professors have the ability to Lay down infos as u.. every time I get a citizen surgeon notification I yell yeeeha another interesting video is coming.. I did and do learn from your videos.. as a 3rd year medical student who started surgery classes I am happy that i found your channel.. ❤❤

If you could recommend a surgery book for your undergrad self what would it be?

*I am reading from Bailey and Love

[DRX-]

very informative video. Information is nicely put together

[Infinity.]

Very informative. Didn't know the usefulness of biofilm wrt appendix. Thanks for spreading knowledge. 👏

[peterweber]

What if you have had your appendix removed? Will you have digestive problems?

[survivormary]

Fascinating! Do you know of any helpful supplementations if it's been removed? Thank you!

[letitiakeller]

God didn't put it there for no reason. And a good reason at that. Everything is needed

[fgc]

Thanks for the information! Question, after the removal of the appendix from a 3-year-old child, will there be any negative long-term health effects?

[karlacallender]

Great video! Your videos have a way of making information stick. I know that appendicitis is common but as a pediatric surgeon, how many cases of appendicitis do you see per week?

[RinaAlfina-gvze]

I had surgery one month ago. actually I was confused because the symptoms were not very clear. ultrasound and leukocytes showed normal but the appendicogram did not. Until when I was in surgery I didn't feel any pain. but in the end I had surgery. after seeing this video. Are there any long term effects after this? Can the appendix grow and function normally and is this common?

[CH-rcpr]

Could you explain why a pt with appendicitis and abscess (that is not drainable)on imaging and is started on iv antibiotics can still have abscess grow in size after being on iv antibiotics for few days?