Vermiform appendix
In human anatomy, the vermiform appendix (or just appendix) is a blind ended tube connected to the caecum. It develops embryologically from the caecum. In adults, the appendix averages 10cm in length but can range from 2-20cm. While the base of the appendix is at a fairly constant location, the location of the tip of the appendix can vary from being retrocaecal to being in the pelvis to being extraperitoneal.
While most believe the appendix is a useless and purely vestigial organ, others suggest it may have a function in the lymphatic system.
An operation to remove the appendix is an appendectomy.
The most common diseases of the appendix (in humans) are:
- appendicitis
- carcinoid
External Links
"The vestigiality of the human vermiform appendix: A Modern Reappraisal" -- evolutionary biology argument that the appendix is vestigial