Why do we have an appendix?

Why do we have an organ that we don't need?

The appendix is a small organ which is attached to the large intestine. It is generally thought to be non-essential because it can be removed without causing any health problems. But this begs the question as to why we have one if it isn’t needed.
It is widely accepted that the appendix may have had an important role when we were hunter gatherers, and our diet and lifestyle was dramatically different. What its exact role was, no one can say for sure but there are 2 good theories for it.
Draw where appendix is

The first is that the appendix had a role in helping us to digest tough plant material, specifically cellulose, which makes up plant cell walls. In doing this, it would have released many micro-nutrients which are contained in the plants which has obvious health benefits. This theory is supported by the fact that some purely herbivorous animals have large appendix like structures which house specialised bacteria that can break down cellulose, and the fact that the appendix is attached to the large intestine suggests its role is related role to the digestive system. We lost the need of the appendix when cooking became common.


The second theory is that the appendix served as a kind of probiotic safe house for the bacteria which live in our large intestine. Before basic cooking and hygiene was developed, humans would commonly eat food that has gone off’ which would cause illness and often diarrhoea and this would flush the probiotics out of the digestive system. To prevent pathogenic bacteria colonising the gut and causing further health problems, species of probiotics would live in the appendix, and re-colonise the large intestine after any illness and restore gut health.


This theory is more widely accepted than the previous one, but it is quite possible that both theories hold some truth for the historic role of the appendix, but it clearly doesn’t serve these roles today.

Contrary to popular belief though, the appendix does appear to have a role in modern man, although it is non-essential. The appendix contains large concentrations of immune cells, particularly a ground called lymphocytes, which help to eliminate waste for the digestive system and fight infection.


So, the appendix probably had a very important role during our time as hunter gatherers, which became obsolete when we started to cook food and recognise the importance of hygiene. This probably resulted in the appendix shrinking to its current size now, but it still has some benefit in supporting the immune system and protecting the health of the digestive system.

Music information:
TITLE: Pacific Sun
ARTIST: NICOLAI HEIDLAS
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CC BY License 4.0

[xFxMaster]

Well made and informative video as always! Welcome back.

[XxdeadxX]

Wow!!! These videos are amazing way better information and quality wise than many popular videos that I watch daily. Keep going invest your time in your videos random, and so will I with the rest of your growing subs!

[wadey]

Haha I’m in the hospital now waiting to get mine out

[dukadarodear]

Very much to the point without any hanging around like a bunch of spare, appended dix.
I apprehended everything you said unlike other reprehensible channels on which I'm going to a reprehensivectomy soon, all by myself.

[bendecker]

The appendix holds good bacteria. That’s why it’s bad when it bursts. Too much bacteria roaming free can be deadly.

[captainbreexit]

I Had my appendix out I vomited green sick o-o

[InsanityHere]

I JUST HAD AA AND I TELL YOU, IF YOU STILL HAVE YOURS, I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU, AND I DON'T ENVY YOU, ONE BIT.

[mariorossi]

I was born without one. So its a useless organ.