Purpose of the previously useless organ found

[texas*princess]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/10/05....ap/index.html

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Some scientists think they have figured out the real job of the troublesome and seemingly useless appendix: It produces and protects good germs for your gut.

That's the theory from surgeons and immunologists at Duke University Medical School, published online in a scientific journal this week.

For generations the appendix has been dismissed as superfluous. Doctors figured it had no function. Surgeons removed them routinely. People live fine without them.

And when infected the appendix can turn deadly. It gets inflamed quickly and some people die if it isn't removed in time. Two years ago, 321,000 Americans were hospitalized with appendicitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The function of the appendix seems related to the massive amount of bacteria populating the human digestive system, according to the study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. There are more bacteria than human cells in the typical body. Most are good and help digest food.

[AlexMack]

Now that is absolutely fascinating. GG medical science!

[Lady Pi Phi]

I was always under the impression that the appendix became usless over time through evolution. I remeber reading/hearing some time ago that the appendix was previously used for digesting grass and other plants that humans no longer eat.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by Lady Pi Phi

I was always under the impression that the appendix became usless over time through evolution. I remeber reading/hearing some time ago that the appendix was previously used for digesting grass and other plants that humans no longer eat.

You are correct!

[DeltAlum]

Oh man,

One of our production assistants had his removed last week -- it was partially ruptured.

I guess it's no more grass for him.