Researchers at Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine have suggested that the human appendix, although widely viewed as a vestigial organ with little known function, may serve as a reservoir for beneficial gut bacteria and as a secondary immune organ that catalyzes immune cell response. According to the paper published in the journal Comptes Rendus Palevol, the organ evolved independently in several mammal lineages, over 30 separate times, and it almost never disappears once it has appeared. This led researchers to believe that it likely serves an adaptive purpose.
The study also reveals that the species with an appendix have higher average concentrations of lymphoid (immune) tissue in the cecum – a pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines or from which the appendix develops, suggesting that the organ may play an important role as a secondary immune organ. Moreover, lymphatic tissue can also stimulate growth of some types of beneficial gut bacteria, which provides further evidence that the appendix may serve as a “safe house” for helpful gut bacteria.
Animals with certain shaped ceca (tapering or spiral-shaped) were more likely to have an appendix than animals with a round or cylindrical cecum. Therefore, the appendix isn’t evolving independently, but as part of a larger “cecoappendicular complex” including both the appendix and cecum, researchers explain.
Reference: Morphological evolution of the mammalian cecum and cecal appendix – Comptes Rendus Palevol, ScienceDirect.
Very interesting. I’ve heard a number of theories, but this idea seems quite plausible. Thank you.
LikeLike
Glad you liked it, GP! 🙂
LikeLike
I totally agree with Onisha. If the appendix actually does serve a purpose, what effect does that have on people who’ve had it removed?
LikeLike
An article at Scientific American says they are four times more likely to have a recurrence of Clostridium difficile colitis – a bacterial infection that can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Certain organs play an important role in a species’ immune system, so do the appendix, particularly as lymphatic tissue is known to foster the growth of certain types of beneficial gut bacteria. So maybe it just halts the operation of immune cell-producing tissues in the cecum. My answer may not be the best, but let’s just hope researchers come up with one solid answer. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/your-appendix-could-save-your-life/
LikeLike
Now there needs to be a study on digestive disease occurrence among people with and without appendix.
LikeLike
A 2012 study showed people without appendix were four times more likely to have a recurrence of Clostridium difficile colitis – a bacterial infection that can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/your-appendix-could-save-your-life/
LikeLike
Wow, good to know. C-Diff has become a big problem.
LikeLike
I love it every time medical science finally figures out another “unnecessary” vestige of random evolution has an actual purpose.
LikeLike
In fact, vestigial parts such appendix, wisdom teeth, tailbone gradually evolved to be become useless as we adapted to more advanced lifestyles than our primitive ancestors.
LikeLike
good to know thank you. (it only holds good ones then???)
LikeLike
Guess so. Also, it’s one of many areas in our intestine to have a high concentration of GALT (Gut-Associated Lymphatic Tissue) which protects us from certain infections.
LikeLike