apendix just hangin around!!

[fallenangel]

hi guys
came accross a fascinating article in a magazine recently and it shocked me.
apparently of should I say according to the article their are certain parts of the body that have become no longer in use as such. when I was young I heard that your apendix doesn,t really do anything, I could never quite accept this theory as there is no way the human body was designed with spare parts so to speak.. every thing has a function! well in the article it stated how nowadays we don,t have much use for this body part as a result of the change in our diet throughout revolution. the apendix was origionally the body part that helped in the digestion of "GREENS AND BARK" ! and as time went on we ate less of both therefore overtime it has become obsolete. hence why many people have no problem in removing them without replacement if they are giving trouble. well I thought it was very interesting to see that and sort of sad to think that we were initially designed to eat a raw diet and over time we have replaced it with the SAD kind and now our body is becoming a spare parts yard as a result!! also the article mentioned something about wisdom teeth for chomping on plants and a tailbone but Id rather not think about what we would look like with one of them!! has anyone come accross anything like this before or can improve on the above information i just picked it up from a magazine rather than a science journal!! :eek:

[sport]

https://notes.utk.edu/Bio/greenberg.nsf/0/0765bb50d404455385256f0000680854?OpenDocument&Click=
This is a link to a big list of parts that we no longer need or use.

[vgloveforlife]

This is all so interesting!

[Apasaraw]

There was a recent finding that determined the appendix IS used by infants as a sack of sorts to grow healthy bacteria in for future use as intestinal flora and for endocrines for the immune system. It isn't vestigal per se, we just didn't know this until recently. There are studies now ongoing about whether it it still used as the "starter" for happy bacteria growth in adults or if it ceases...I'll try and find the journal article and post here.


Found some info:

"Slimy but useful:

Biologists in the early 20th century surmised that the human body had over 100 useless parts left over from our more ape-like lifestyle a few million years ago. The parathyroid was one such organ, now known to regulate calcium-phosphorous metabolism. The appendix was another.

The appendix is a slimy, dead-end sac that hangs between the small and large intestines. It's about a half inch in diameter and three inches long. As quickly as 11 weeks after conception, the appendix starts making endocrine cells for the developing fetus. Endocrine cells secrete useful chemicals, such as hormones, and the appendix endocrine cells secrete amines and peptide hormones that help with biological checks and balances as the fetus grows.

After birth, the appendix mainly helps the body stave off disease by serving as a lymphoid organ. Lymphoid organs, with their lymphoid tissue, make white blood cells and antibodies.

The appendix, by virtue of its lymphoid tissue, is part of a complicated chain that makes B lymphocytes (one variety of white blood cell) and a class of antibodies known as immunoglobulin A antibodies. The appendix also produces certain chemicals that help direct the white blood cells to the parts of the body where they are needed the most.

The dirty gut is a good training ground for young white blood cells. The appendix, with its sac routinely collecting and expelling foodstuffs, exposes the white blood cells to myriad bacteria, viruses and drugs passing through the gastrointestinal tract. This way, the white blood cells learn to fight potentially deadly bacteria, such as E.coli.

The appendix's contribution to the body's white blood cell and antibody production reaches its peak when you are about 20 or 30 years old, then production falls off sharply. By age 60, the appendix serves very little active purpose."

http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/060530_bad_appendix.html

[Rawkinlocs]

LOL...seems like in this day and age EVERYTHING is expendable!

"Oh your gallbladder has stones in it? Let's just toss that right on out, ya don't really need it!"

"You keep getting infections in your throat...why don't we just remove those nasty little tonsils since they're just hanging around back there not doing anything for ya but causing ya problems anyway!"

"Kidney failing ya you say? Well we'll just get that right on outta there for ya and replace it with good 'old dialysis!"

"What's that you say? Your uterus is givin' ya the blues? Well why don't we just remove the WHOOOOLE reproductive system! You don't need to have anymore kids anyways so you'll thank me for this during those intimate times when you don't wanna conceive and don't have to worry 'about birth control!"

I'm just kidding around and realize the decisions to remove body parts doesn't come THAT easily...but sure seems that way at times! :eek:

[RawNut]

LOL...seems like in this day and age EVERYTHING is expendable!

"Oh your gallbladder has stones in it? Let's just toss that right on out, ya don't really need it!"

"You keep getting infections in your throat...why don't we just remove those nasty little tonsils since they're just hanging around back there not doing anything for ya but causing ya problems anyway!"

"Kidney failing ya you say? Well we'll just get that right on outta there for ya and replace it with good 'old dialysis!"

"What's that you say? Your uterus is givin' ya the blues? Well why don't we just remove the WHOOOOLE reproductive system! You don't need to have anymore kids anyways so you'll thank me for this during those intimate times when you don't wanna conceive and don't have to worry 'about birth control!"

I'm just kidding around and realize the decisions to remove body parts doesn't come THAT easily...but sure seems that way at times! :eek:

Could you imagine if people had the same attitude with the sense organs? "Eye infection? You don't need eyes to live. Out with it and while we're at it, let's get those eardrums out before they give you trouble."

When my mother had her gallbladder out, they went ahead and took her perfectly healthy appendix out for good measure.

Craig

[dreamrawalwz]

This is all so interesting! I've had my appendix removed the same time 60% my small itestines removed. In bio I learned that it helps with the lymphatic system (wonder why i have food problesm?). If it's used to help with greens, no wonder I get gassy and they go right through me without getting digested! (sorry TMI).

[sevenbravo]

I'm still sad that I don't have my appendix or my tonsils. :( :( I wasn't old enough to have a choice...

[Apasaraw]

Rawkin' you're right on!

Growing up the Dr.s either gave you a pill or cut something out/off. I experienced this 2x without a choice because of being of too young an age.

Maybe we can grow them back someday. ;)

[Apasaraw]

Rawkin' you're right on!

Growing up the Dr.s either gave you a pill or cut something out/off. I experienced this 2x without a choice because of being of too young an age.

7B - Maybe we can grow them back someday. ;)

[Shan]

What ARE tonsils for? Anyone know?

[RawNut]

What ARE tonsils for? Anyone know?

The function of the tonsils has not been pinpointed, but scientists believe that they perform at least two vital jobs. The tonsils release antibodies into the throat to prevent infection from spreading into the lungs (a useful service to children, who are highly susceptible to ear, nose, and throat infections).

The tonsils also attract bacterial infection, thereby stimulating the production of antibodies, which accumulate in the body and are then available to prevent future, and potentially more serious, infections. (Antibodies normally do not develop unless infection is present.) If the tonsils do perform these two functions, then each attack of tonsillitis may help immunize a child against disease; once resistance has been developed, the function of the tonsils is complete.

From: http://health.howstuffworks.com/define-tonsillitis.htm

Craig

[Shan]

The function of the tonsils has not been pinpointed, but scientists believe that they perform at least two vital jobs. The tonsils release antibodies into the throat to prevent infection from spreading into the lungs (a useful service to children, who are highly susceptible to ear, nose, and throat infections).

The tonsils also attract bacterial infection, thereby stimulating the production of antibodies, which accumulate in the body and are then available to prevent future, and potentially more serious, infections. (Antibodies normally do not develop unless infection is present.) If the tonsils do perform these two functions, then each attack of tonsillitis may help immunize a child against disease; once resistance has been developed, the function of the tonsils is complete.

From: http://health.howstuffworks.com/define-tonsillitis.htm

Craig

Thanks Craig :) It's all so interesting!

[rachelmh]

AFTER I had my tonsils out at the age of 21 (not an easy surgery as an adult btw), I found out they are the body's last line of defense again infection. Lovely.