What was your appendix used for

Ask your doctor for more information about your specific condition, treatment options, and outlook. They can help you understand the potential benefits and risks of an appendectomy. An appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix. Learn about the appendectomy procedure, risks, and recovery. Researchers say in some less serious cases of appendicitis antibiotics can help avoid surgery to remove the appendix.

Appendicitis is an inflammation of your appendix, in the lower right side of your abdomen, that requires immediate treatment. Some symptoms can be…. Appendix cancer occurs when healthy cells become abnormal and grow rapidly.

Appendix cancer is rare, but there are successful treatment options…. Television journalist Norah O'Donnell says she waited too long to have the pain in her abdomen examined.

A ruptured appendix can make you very sick, but fortunately, treatment is…. The dorsal tarsometatarsal ligament is located in the foot.

It provides connections among the bones of the feet. The metatarsals are the long bones of…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Does the Appendix Do? Things to Know. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. See Subscription Options.

Discover World-Changing Science. Loren G. Martin, professor of physiology at Oklahoma State University, replies: "For years, the appendix was credited with very little physiological function. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. Support science journalism. In that line of thinking, you may know a lot of people who have had both surgeries at some point in their lives, but the reason that both need to be removed is not related.

We know, for the most part, the purpose for most organs in the human body. But what about the appendix? Sometimes, however, there is no blockage responsible for the inflammation. Other symptoms of appendicitis can include: Sudden pain that starts around the navel and shifts to the lower-right side of the abdomen. Pregnant women may experience pain from the upper abdomen, as the appendix shifts during pregnancy. Loss of appetite. Abdominal bloating.

Nausea and vomiting. Constipation and diarrhea. A low-grade fever that may worsen as the illness progresses. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Science News. ScienceDaily, 21 August Duke University Medical Center. Retrieved November 11, from www. The findings solidify Now, a new study shows that the composition and function of gut bacteria can recover after antibiotic treatment in healthy