home Drugs Human appendix. What is the appendix and why does a person need it? Why is appendicitis needed in the body?

Human appendix. What is the appendix and why does a person need it? Why is appendicitis needed in the body?

Some kind of rudiment, an obsolete organ that we inherited from herbivorous monkeys. Such conclusions were made on the basis that predator animals do not have an appendix at all, while herbivores, for example, cows, have an extremely developed appendix. This attitude towards the small appendage of the cecum persisted for more than 100 years. There have been cases where the appendix was cut out at birth to avoid further unpleasant consequences. But the human body is a single, interconnected system in which there is nothing superfluous. The removal or failure of one organ is compensated by an increased load on other organs and on the entire body as a whole. And although the appendix is supposedly part of the digestive system, it does not take part in this process. This small ten-centimeter process has a different function.

What is the appendix and what is its role in the body

The appendix is part of the lymphatic system, and is directly involved in the functioning of the immune system, that is, the system that resists various diseases. Observations revealed that those children whose appendix was cut out in early childhood were significantly behind their peers in mental and physical development. And most importantly, people with a removed appendix get sick much more often than those who have this organ functioning well. American researchers from Duke University also came to the conclusion that the appendix is a kind of breeding farm for the gastrointestinal tract.

The appendix is inserted into the cecum, through a small lumen microorganisms enter the gastrointestinal tract, but the intestinal contents cannot penetrate from the gastrointestinal tract into the appendix, due to which the cavity of the lymphatic organ remains free. The appendage produces amylase and lipase, which take part in digestion and the breakdown of fats, and the hormone serotonin, which is called the hormone of happiness. Serotonin, along with other functions, is involved in the work of sphincters and intestinal motility.

Etiology of appendicitis

The first, mechanical theory, with all the variety of factors, is more confirmed than others by research and data from postoperative analyzes. But, despite the fact that other theories are poorly supported, they once again prove that the appendix is important in the body.

Inflammation of the appendix and its symptoms

Inflammation of the appendix can be recognized by the following signs:

first appears in the upper abdomen (at the level of the stomach), or near the navel. Sometimes it spreads throughout the entire abdominal cavity. And after a few hours the pain moves down to the right.
For some time, the pain is moderately constant, but at some point it may stop due to the necrosis of the nerve fibers. The pain may intensify while walking, coughing, or sudden movements.
In acute appendicitis, appetite disappears, vomiting appears, which is of a reflex nature, and body temperature rises to 37-38°C. If you measure the temperature in the right and left armpits, then on the right it will be higher.

Diagnostics

Appendicitis, or inflammation of the appendix, occurs, as a rule, at an active age - 20-40 years. Less often - in children. Women get sick much more often than men, and this is probably why in the Middle Ages doctors mistook inflammation of the appendix for uterine abscesses. The incidence of the disease is 4-5 people per 1000 per year. A doctor can detect appendicitis by palpating (feeling) the right lower abdomen. There is pain here, the muscles are overly tense. There is a feeling of fullness that radiates to the right ilium or left hypochondrium if you press at McBurney's point (in the middle between the navel and the ilium on the right). Laboratory diagnosis of appendicitis is carried out only after surgery; it allows us to understand the morphological nature of the disease. There are 3 main forms known:

Catarrhal
Phlegmonous
Gangrenous

Postoperative diagnosis is necessary to prevent subsequent postoperative complications. Today, the only, and perhaps the most effective, method of treating acute appendicitis is appendectomy, that is, removal of the inflamed organ.

Acute appendicitis is a disease that is not to be trifled with

It is important to know that at the first sign of illness you should immediately go to the hospital. Inflammation of the appendix develops quickly. Therefore, the phrase “delay is like death” is precisely about appendicitis. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable. Traditional medicine also does not know methods of treatment for inflammatory processes of the appendix. Sometimes two days are enough for a patient who is not provided with timely assistance to die. The reason for such a rapid development of the disease is that the pus produced in the inflamed organ does not find a way out and bursts the walls, causing perforation of the tissue. People say that the appendix burst.

Pus leaks into the abdominal cavity, causing infection of the abdominal tissue and blood. True, traditional medicine has had its say about the prevention of the disease, and traditional medicine agrees with it in that the diet of each of us must necessarily contain fiber, which gently cleanses the intestines of fecal stones. Therefore, we should eat more plant foods in the form of greens and fruits.

You can also learn what the appendix is and what its role in the body is from the video:

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Causes of appendicitis, as well as forms and symptoms...

The human body is a perfect self-regulating system, which under normal conditions, that is, without the presence of disease, works like a Swiss watch. However, in some cases, the functioning of the body is disrupted, which can lead to life-threatening conditions. For example, the appendix, or the vermiform appendix of the cecum, which makes a significant contribution to immune defense, can become inflamed, resulting in so-called appendicitis. This pathology will be discussed in this article. You will learn what appendicitis is and what preventive measures will help you avoid it.

Functions of the appendix

To understand why the appendix becomes inflamed (appendicitis is a consequence of its inflammation), you need to learn about its structure and functions.

For a long time, the vermiform appendix was considered an atavism. Doctors believed that the organ would lose its digestive function and was needed only when human ancestors ate mainly plant foods, which the appendix helped to digest. The real functions of the appendix were discovered almost by accident. To prevent appendicitis, infants began to have the appendix of the cecum removed en masse. This simple operation was believed to be very easy to handle at an early age. However, the development of the unfortunate babies was very slow, they did not digest food well and often suffered from infectious diseases.

Anatomy and physiology

Thus, the appendix plays a huge role in immunity: the lymphatic tissue of this organ protects against inflammatory processes. In addition, the appendix acts as a reservoir for intestinal microflora. If all the bacteria inhabiting the intestine die, then it will be populated by the “residents” of the cecum.

The appendix is located on the back wall of the intestine. It has a cylindrical shape. The dimensions of the process range from 6-12 centimeters. What is appendicitis? This is inflammation of this very vermiform appendix. Why is this happening? Can appendicitis be prevented? This will be discussed further.

Causes of the disease

So what causes the appendix to become inflamed? Appendicitis can be caused by various reasons:

Bacteria that are carried into the appendix by the bloodstream from the source of inflammation.
Blockage of the mouth of the appendix with feces.
The presence of helminths (ascaris or pinworms) in the body.
Violation of diet. It has been noted that the more fatty meat a person consumes, the higher the likelihood of developing the disease.
Anatomical features. In some people, the process has a number of bends, the presence of which leads to stagnation.
Blockage of the arteries that feed the appendix.

At risk are people who have bad habits, abuse tobacco and alcohol. The hereditary nature of the disease has also been proven. Of course, it is not appendicitis itself that is inherited, but a predisposition to it.

Prevention

Appendicitis is a pathology from which you cannot completely protect yourself. However, there are simple recommendations that can minimize the likelihood of developing this disease:

Do not trigger inflammatory processes in the body.
You should not use antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. Antibiotics are detrimental to normal microflora.
Lead an active lifestyle. Physical activity is important for normal blood supply to the abdominal organs.
Get regular medical checkups.

Proper nutrition is the best prevention of disease

It is impossible to completely protect yourself from appendicitis. However, if you carefully monitor your diet, you can reduce the likelihood of developing this disease to a minimum:

Avoid constipation. Constipation causes the death of microorganisms that populate the intestines. As a result, pathogenic bacteria begin to multiply, which can cause inflammation of the appendix. To prevent constipation, drink a glass of warm water half an hour before meals: this will prepare the gastrointestinal tract for eating.
Eat as many fiber-rich foods as possible. Fiber improves digestion and reliably protects the organs of the digestive system from inflammatory processes. A lot of fiber is found in whole grain bread, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables.
Always consume protein along with fiber-rich foods: this will facilitate the digestion of food and prevent putrefactive processes in the intestines.
Drink as many freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices as possible.
Don't eat too many seeds and berries with seeds. Sometimes pieces of undigested food get into the appendix. They injure the walls of the appendix, resulting in inflammation.
Do not reuse cooking oil. This is very harmful to health: you can “earn” not only appendicitis, but also colitis.

Gymnastics

Basic measures to prevent appendicitis also include daily morning exercises for the abdomen. It's very simple to do: before getting out of bed, take a deep breath. As you exhale, pull in your stomach, trying to tighten your abdominal muscles as much as possible. Count to five, relax your stomach and inhale. You need to repeat this exercise 10 times. This way, you will improve intestinal motility and prepare your digestive system for the first portion of food of the day.

Also, intestinal motility is improved by cycling and swimming, as well as walking and running. Women should pay attention to belly dancing: regular oriental dance classes help get rid of digestive problems.

Self-massage to improve peristalsis

How else can you prevent inflammation? Appendicitis can be avoided if you do a light abdominal massage after eating. This will improve the blood supply to the appendix. The massage is done as follows: lie on your back, relax your abs, bend your legs slightly. Place your right palm in the center of your abdomen and begin making circular movements with your fingertips in a clockwise direction. Start with a small amplitude and gradually increase it. You need to stroke your belly for 3-4 minutes.

If you ate outside and do not have the opportunity to lie down, simply stroke your stomach after eating, moving your hand clockwise.

Prevention of appendicitis: folk remedies

If you want to avoid appendicitis, use the following recipes:

Take 15 grams of white foot root, add 150 ml of alcohol to the raw material and leave for a week in a dark place. As soon as you feel the first symptoms of digestive system disorders, take a couple of drops of the infusion every two hours. The product can be diluted with a small amount of warm water.
Take 100 grams of mantle grass and 40 grams of strawberry and blackberry leaves. Pour 4 tablespoons of crushed leaves into 750 ml of boiling water. The broth should simmer for 5 minutes over low heat. You need to drink one teaspoon every hour and a half.

Avoiding stress

Prevention of appendicitis will be effective if you avoid stress. Of course, inflammation of the appendix is not considered a psychosomatic disease. However, frequent stress can lead to poor digestion, and this, in turn, increases the risk of inflammation of the appendix. In addition, many people “eat up” negative emotions, choosing far from the healthiest foods, for example, chocolate or fast food. It is advisable to learn to cope with stress without the help of junk food, but with more constructive methods.

To prevent appendicitis, psychologists who study the relationship between consciousness and health recommend giving yourself time to rest and not worrying about trifles. It is very important to regularly take time for yourself and your favorite activities.

These are the basic measures provided for prevention. Appendicitis is an insidious disease that can start at any minute. Only people who have already had their appendix removed are insured against it. If you experience abdominal pain, you should not panic: thanks to the development of modern medicine, surgery to remove appendicitis is considered one of the most gentle for the patient’s body.

Appendix - why is this oblong appendage of the cecum needed? It often becomes inflamed and threatens the health of children and people of reproductive age. Therefore, scientists for a long time considered it a rudiment, inherited by man from ancient times, when large amounts of fiber were consumed and additional bacteria were required to process roughage.

Only in the 30s of the twentieth century did scientists figure out why this worm-like organ was needed. The appendix exists in the body to perform certain functions related to the production of E. coli and the functioning of defense mechanisms. After the role of the cecum in the human body was determined, doctors stopped removing it from all young children at the slightest suspicion of inflammation or for preventive purposes.

Modern medicine claims that people with their appendix removed in childhood suffer from various diseases associated with low local immunity in the colon.

Oncologists believe that people with a removed appendix are more likely to develop malignant tumors in the digestive organs.

Description and functions of the organ

The appendix is an oblong appendage of the cecum descending into the pelvic cavity. Its walls are covered with four membranes, no different from the mucous tissues found in the large intestine.

The process inside is covered with a lymphatic network containing nodules in which B-lymphocyte cells are formed. This type of lymphocyte is very important for immune processes. Together with T cells, they recognize pathogenic agents and destroy them, releasing various substances into the blood.

The cecum supplies B lymphocytes to suppress the growth of pathogenic microflora that occurs in the lower sections of the intestine. Cells of the immune system enter into protective reactions, and this allows the body to maintain the normal functioning of the digestive system. Activated cells are transformed into plasmocides that synthesize antibodies, with the help of which the body’s response to secondary exposure to pathogenic agents is formed. An excess of B-lymphocytes with a lack of pathogenic microflora in the intestine becomes the cause of food allergic reactions, which is a problem in modern society, which consumes a large amount of preservatives.

The cecal appendage performs functions related to the formation of intestinal microflora. Under normal conditions, it is the place where beneficial E. coli, necessary for digestion, is cultivated. During the period of intestinal infections, when beneficial microflora is killed by toxins and poisons of pathogenic agents, the body has a reserve of beneficial microflora, which quickly restores the disturbed balance in the gastrointestinal tract.

A person after illnesses associated with digestive disorders is recommended to eat more plant foods. This promotes the colonization of beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Why the appendix is needed was found out in the laboratory. This body:

produces rhythmic contractions to move feces through the colon;
releases lymphocytes;
produces antibodies;
produces sialic acid, which has bactericidal properties.

The mucous tissues of the cecal appendage contain the hormone melatonin, which regulates many physiological processes in the body. With its deficiency, a person begins to experience insomnia and a sharp aging of the body occurs.

Scientists have not fully figured out whether the active substances enter the appendix from other glands or whether the mucous tissues produce them independently. There is an assumption that this is a temporary storage facility needed for the rapid delivery of biologically active substances to their destination.

The importance of this part of the intestine for immunity

The beneficial functions of the appendix are an indisputable fact. The accumulation of immune tissue in the lower intestine allows lymphocytes produced in the bone marrow to accumulate inside the cells of the appendix. The body needs this to regulate vital processes in the colon.

Scientists around the world call the vermiform appendix an important organ of the immune system, because it is the place where beneficial microflora multiply. It actively produces E. coli, which is necessary for the release of the following important substances from the food coma that enters the intestines:

This useful element is necessary for humans to regulate water-salt metabolism. During the processing of food, E. coli releases murein, a complex peptide compound that stimulates the immune system.

People need the appendix even though it is not involved in the digestion process. This “factory” continuously supplies newly formed bacteria to the intestines whenever an intestinal infection destroys them. The process of growing new colonies occurs continuously as long as a person eats properly. It is necessary to include cabbage and greens in your daily diet so that the production of lymphoid cells in the body is not suppressed. Addiction to protein foods of animal or plant origin worsens the condition of the appendix and leads to its inflammation.

With properly organized nutrition, the lymphoid cells of the appendix are most viable. They restore the body after a course of chemotherapy and constantly support protective functions during treatment of cancer. Oncologists believe that the presence of a preserved appendix in the body allows one to expect a positive reaction after radioactive radiation or radiography.

Possible consequences of deletion

The appendix is often compared to the lymphoid tissue of the tonsils, which serve to locally protect organs from viral infection and the proliferation of opportunistic microflora. It cannot be removed unless there are medical indications for surgery.

In the first half of the twentieth century, doctors in some countries practiced removing the appendix in infants to prevent an acute inflammatory process. Subsequently, it was found that people who grew up without this organ were short of height, underweight, and often suffered from digestive problems. They had intestinal infections more often, and the recovery of intestinal microflora after illness was much slower.

Modern man endures the consequences of having the appendix of the cecum removed much more easily. He can compensate for the insufficient amount of beneficial bacteria, for which he periodically undergoes treatment with probiotics. But this possibility does not mean that the process can be removed without good reason. The body needs the appendix for the colon to function properly. It helps move stool forward, stimulating motility. Chronic appendicitis or absence of the appendage is often the cause of the formation of fecal stones in children and the elderly.

In the absence of the appendix, the protective mechanisms are weakened, and when pathogenic agents attack, this affects the condition of the large lymph nodes located in the groin. They greatly increase in size, become painful, and an inflammatory process may begin in them.

When the defense mechanisms are weakened, the infection affects the genitourinary system and other organs located in the pelvic cavity. This causes various diseases of the reproductive system in women and men.

A person needs to take care of the gastrointestinal tract to prevent inflammation of the appendix. To do this, it is recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle, include good quality food in the menu, and not clog the digestive system with coarse fiber. Neglect of the digestive tract leads to blockage of the passage into the appendix, and this causes dysfunction of the medulla oblongata appendage of the cecum, which becomes the beginning of an acute inflammatory process.

For a long time, Soviet medicine considered the appendix to be a kind of rudiment, an obsolete organ that we inherited from herbivorous monkeys. Such conclusions were made on the basis that predator animals do not have an appendix at all, while herbivores, for example, cows, have an extremely developed appendix. This attitude towards the small appendage of the cecum persisted for more than 100 years. There have been cases where the appendix was cut out at birth to avoid further unpleasant consequences. But the human body is a single, interconnected system in which there is nothing superfluous. The removal or failure of one organ is compensated by an increased load on other organs and on the entire body as a whole. And although the appendix is supposedly part of the digestive system, it does not take part in this process. This small ten-centimeter process has a different function.

What is the appendix and what is its role in the body

Clear localization of pain in appendicitis

The appendix is inserted into the cecum, through a small lumen microorganisms enter the gastrointestinal tract, but the intestinal contents cannot penetrate from the gastrointestinal tract into the appendix, due to which the cavity of the lymphatic organ remains free. The appendage produces amylase and lipase, enzymes involved in digestion, the breakdown of fats, and the hormone serotonin, which is called the hormone of happiness. Serotonin, along with other functions, is involved in the work of sphincters and intestinal motility.

Etiology of appendicitis

Inflammation of the appendix and its symptoms

Appendix: schematic representation

Inflammation of the appendix can be recognized by the following signs:

The pain first appears in the upper abdomen (at the level of the stomach), or near the navel. Sometimes it spreads throughout the entire abdominal cavity. And after a few hours the pain moves down to the right.
For some time, the pain is moderately constant, but at some point it may stop due to the necrosis of the nerve fibers. The pain may intensify while walking, coughing, or sudden movements.
In acute appendicitis, appetite disappears, nausea and vomiting appear, which is reflexive in nature, and body temperature rises to 37-38oC. If you measure the temperature in the right and left armpits, then on the right it will be higher.

Diagnostics

Appendicitis, or inflammation of the appendix, occurs, as a rule, at an active age - 20-40 years. Less often - in children. Women get sick much more often than men, and this is probably why in the Middle Ages doctors mistook inflammation of the appendix for uterine abscesses. The incidence of the disease is 4-5 people per 1000 per year. A doctor can detect appendicitis by palpating (feeling) the right lower abdomen. There is pain here, the muscles are overly tense. There is a feeling of fullness and pain in the stomach, radiating to the right iliac or left hypochondrium if you press at McBurney's point (in the middle between the navel and the ilium on the right). Laboratory diagnosis of appendicitis is carried out only after surgery; it allows us to understand the morphological nature of the disease. There are 3 main forms known:

Catarrhal
Phlegmonous
Gangrenous

Postoperative diagnosis is necessary to prevent subsequent postoperative complications. Today, the only, and perhaps the most effective method of treating acute appendicitis is appendectomy, that is, a surgical operation to remove the inflamed organ.

Acute appendicitis is a disease that is not to be trifled with

Scar after appedixectomy

You can also learn what the appendix is and what its role in the body is from the video:

Most of us are familiar with common problems associated with dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract. We are talking about constipation and diarrhea. You've probably experienced food poisoning a couple of times in your life. But an inflamed appendix makes itself felt much less often. According to statistics, doctors remove the appendix from only five percent of the population. And if you do find yourself in this small company, you need to know about the signs of an impending illness.

This problem is serious

Experts warn of the seriousness of the problem. If the appendix is inflamed, it means that an infection has already entered it. Without surgical intervention, life-threatening consequences are possible. The inflamed appendage may burst, resulting in peritonitis developing throughout the abdominal cavity. In the best case, the patient will undergo several operations; in the worst case, the doctors will be powerless. According to Jennifer Kadle, MD, a board-certified family physician and assistant professor at the Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine, not every case of appendicitis results in a rupture of the organ. However, the longer the inflamed appendix is not operated on, the higher the likelihood of a disastrous outcome.

Here are five warning signs that indicate your appendix is about to make itself known. If your health allows you to move independently, consult your doctor. If the situation is critical, do not hesitate and call an ambulance.

Your stomach hurts more than before

Appendicitis usually causes severe pain that extends from the navel to the lower right side of the abdomen. This pain does not mean that the appendix is about to burst. To determine an accurate diagnosis, you will need to undergo a CT scan. Dan Gingold, an emergency medicine physician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, says some patients with appendicitis have a different type of discomfort.

Pay attention to the characteristic pain on the right side of the abdomen when walking or coughing. You can drive a car on a rough road without slowing down, and this will also make itself felt on the right side. This occurs due to the fact that the entire abdominal wall may be inflamed. In this case, appendicitis may be on the verge of rupture, or the worst has already happened. We advise you to consult a doctor immediately.

You experience vomiting and loss of appetite

Not in all cases of appendicitis the symptoms are so clear. If you experience nausea and loss of appetite, food poisoning may be suspected. Do not let these manifestations mislead you if you experience severe pain when leaving the house. An inflamed appendix sometimes affects other parts of the gastrointestinal tract and even affects the nervous system. This is why you experience nausea and vomiting.

You go to the toilet much more often

In some people, the appendix is located in the lower abdomen. Therefore, inflammation can make itself felt through the bladder. Therefore, you may experience a more frequent urge to urinate. When the bladder comes into contact with the inflamed appendage, it also becomes inflamed and irritated. As a result, along with frequent urges, you feel pain during urination itself. Do not confuse your condition with cystitis or kidney disease if your condition is accompanied by other symptoms characteristic of appendicitis.

Fever and chills

Fever and chills are a clear indication that inflammation is occurring somewhere in your body. When the appendix is inflamed, the body begins to respond by releasing chemical signals of protection. These substances cause anxiety, localized pain, and fever and chills. If you experience stomach pain along with a high temperature (above 39 degrees), consult a doctor immediately.

You're not yourself

Your condition can be called critical if you experience confusion and disorientation in space. This symptom indicates that the infection is beginning to invade new territories. If the appendix has already ruptured and purulent discharge has entered the bloodstream, the patient develops sepsis. Experts warn that the condition can be fatal. Confusion does not occur due to disruption of brain processes. This condition is caused by the development of infection and overuse of bodily resources. Even oxygen is used by the body to fight inflammation, but the brain is left without some resources.

Not receiving proper nutrition, the main organ lets you know about this through confusion and disorientation. That is why it is important to seek qualified medical help as soon as possible. Every time you observe strange behavior from the nervous system, do not delay calling the emergency room. Note that oxygen starvation of the brain can be caused not only by inflammation of appendicitis. The sooner you can get help, the better.

Not far from the junction of the small intestine with the large intestine, the cecum has an appendage called the appendix. This formation has an elongated worm-like shape, with an average length of 8-10 cm, and ends in a blind manner. Each person's appendix varies in length and location, but in all of them it is located in the right iliac region (in rare cases, on the left, with a “mirror” anatomy of the body).

Structure and functions

In most people, the appendix, starting from the cecum, descends downwards (45% of cases). If its length is sufficient, then it can penetrate into the pelvic cavity. This, when inflamed, leads to “low” localization of the pain syndrome and involvement of the bladder or uterus and appendages in the inflammatory process. The lateral and medial location of the appendix (on the lateral sides of the cecum) occurs with equal frequency (20-25%). Most rarely, in 10% of cases, it is located in an ascending manner, which also affects the localization and irradiation of pain.

The longest appendix ever removed was 26 cm long and belonged to a patient from Zagreb (Croatia).

The length of the appendix varies greatly. The smallest is 2-3 cm, the largest is up to 15 cm. Despite these differences, the structure of the process is the same in all people. Its walls consist of the same layers as the wall of the colon: the inner epithelial layer (mucosa), the submucosal layer, muscular and serous, with which the appendix is covered on the outside. In addition, this outer connective tissue layer passes into the mesentery, which supplies blood and innervation to the appendix.

It is believed that the appendix is a rudimentary organ, which in the process of evolution has lost its main purpose: to be a full-fledged component of the digestive tract and participate in the digestion of food. Gradually it became smaller and thinner, but still remained necessary to perform other important functions. As research has established, the submucosal layer of the walls of the appendix contains a huge number of small formations consisting of lymphoid tissue. This is precisely what confirms the main function of the appendix: participation in creating a sufficient level of human immunity.

Drawing from "Grey's Anatomy"

This kind of “intestinal tonsil” differentiates lymphocytes that protect a person from infections, is a “production factory” of beneficial intestinal microorganisms, and produces some intestinal enzymes. It has been established that children who have lost their appendix develop worse physically and mentally and are more likely to suffer from infectious pathologies.

Currently, it is widely believed that this body performs at least 3 functions:

secretory (produces amylase and lipase);
protective (contains many lymphoid formations);
hormonal (produces hormones involved in the work of intestinal sphincters and peristalsis).

Causes of inflammation

The vermiform appendix primarily performs a protective barrier function, saving the body from pathogenic bacterial microflora. But in some cases, he can become a “victim” of the infection, taking the main blow. When it turns out to be stronger than the capabilities of the lymphoid tissue, inflammation begins in the walls of the appendix. At first it is catarrhal in nature, then quickly acquires purulent features, becoming phlegmonous or gangrenous.

This is facilitated by factors such as impaired drainage of the appendix cavity. It is already small in size, and if intestinal contents with a huge amount of bacteria or fecal stone enter it and in the presence of fibrous adhesions, it is not cleaned at all. As a result, acute appendicitis develops very quickly. In some cases, inflammation begins when damage or thrombosis of the mesenteric arteries occurs.

Acute appendicitis has become increasingly reported over the past decades. This is facilitated by changes both in human nutrition and in the immunological sphere, the emergence of a greater number of autoimmune and allergic diseases.

When it comes to the meaning of appendicitis, it is worth making a reservation right away: inflammation does not matter, but poses a danger to our lives. But the appendix, which becomes inflamed, is not a rudiment and still has significance. The research into its role in the body has not yet been completed, but scientists already know a lot of interesting things about it.

Initially, this appendage of the cecum was needed by humans in order to digest plant foods: bacteria lived here that helped the digestive system cope with cellulose. Over time, people ate more and more animal food and the appendix began to decrease in size, turning into a rudiment. By the way, it can be located in the abdominal cavity in different ways: descending, internally (among the intestinal loops. In this case, its inflammation is accompanied by peritonitis and adhesions), externally (in the lateral right canal. In this case, chronic appendicitis is possible), left-sided, in the wall of the blind intestines, etc. Many scientists of the past, for example Charles Darwin and Ilya Mechnikov, believed that this was a completely unnecessary organ.

In the 20th century, the practice of removing this unnecessary process from a couple of centimeters to ten centimeters in length even became widespread: not even a point is needed. By the way, the largest appendix that was removed from a person had a length of more than 23 cm... But as it turned out, people who have it tolerate many diseases more easily and have good digestion. This means that it is not entirely a rudiment.

Why is it needed?

Firstly, it performs a barrier function. As you know, our intestines contain a great variety of bacteria and microorganisms that participate in the digestion of food and protect us from dangerous, foreign organisms. During many diseases, these bacteria die, but some of them are located in the appendix. They become the beginning of new populations. If there is no appendix, then dysbiosis may occur after gastrointestinal diseases and intestinal infections.

Why does it become inflamed?

There is no single point of view, and there cannot be one. The spring decrease in immunity, helminths, foreign bodies, and food debris may be to blame for this. Also, any inflammatory process in the body, be it a sore throat or a sore tooth, can lead to inflammation of the appendix. In any case, inflammation occurs due to the fact that the artery in the appendix is of a terminal type, so when it becomes inflamed, blood clots immediately form here, clogging the artery. Because of this, the blood supply to the appendix stops, its walls become thin, and pus passes through them into the abdominal cavity. It all starts with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the appendix, then the inflammation spreads to all layers of the appendix, after which ulcers appear on its mucous membrane. At the last stage of appendicitis, gangrenous, the wall of the appendix dies, and the contents of the appendix enter the abdominal cavity. Gangrenous appendicitis can lead to peritonitis. Usually this stage begins on the second day after inflammation.

Appendix (vermiform appendix) is a hollow tube approximately 8-15 cm long and about 1 cm in diameter, extending from the lower end of the cecum and closed on the other side. In other words, it is a “blind” tube that leads nowhere. The appendix is located at the beginning of the large intestine, in the lower part of the abdominal cavity, on the right.

The structure of the human colon

Many rodents, herbivores, some predators, monkeys and humans have a vermiform appendage.

In humans, the vermiform appendix was until recently considered a useless organ. In the 30s of the 20th century, they even introduced the practice of removing the appendix for all children. And it turned out that they did it completely in vain. Children who had their appendix removed for no reason lagged behind their peers in physical and mental development. In general, people with “accidentally” removed appendixes are more likely than others to suffer from a variety of diseases. We were unable to find out why this was happening.

Today it is known that in the human body the appendix does not take part in the digestion process, although it is located in the intestines. The bacteria that live in it maintain healthy microflora in the intestines. The appendix is like an incubator for such bacteria, a “safe home” for them.

In the wall of the appendix there are lymphoid accumulations, the same as in the tonsils in the throat. Therefore, it is often called the “intestinal tonsil”. Lymphoid accumulations contain cells that perform important immune functions. That is, the appendix takes an active part in all protective reactions of the body.

This appendix reacts especially quickly to inflammatory disorders in the cecum and the entire gastrointestinal tract. But it is precisely this feature that makes the vermiform appendix a vulnerable spot. If the lymphoid tissue has to work frequently and intensively, the walls of the appendix swell, the contents in it are retained and an inflammatory process develops - appendicitis. First, suppuration occurs in the mucous membrane itself, and then in all layers of the wall of the appendix. If appendicitis develops, the appendix must be surgically removed. Delay in surgery can result in serious complications and even death.

Previously, it was generally accepted that the appendix became inflamed due to the ingestion of hard, indigestible particles, for example, seed husks, etc. It's a delusion! The opening of the appendix is too small to retain small particles of food - only 1-2 mm.

Modern experts believe that the cause of acute appendicitis is the food addictions of modern people, as well as allergies. Oddly enough, appendicitis used to be rare - it is generally a relatively “young” disease.