From the Research
The appendix serves as a reservoir for beneficial gut bacteria and plays a role in the immune system and gut health, as supported by the most recent study in 2025 1. The appendix is a small, finger-like pouch attached to the cecum of the large intestine.
- It acts as a safe house for good bacteria during intestinal illnesses like diarrhea, allowing these beneficial microbes to repopulate the gut after the illness resolves.
- The appendix contains lymphoid tissue that helps in immune function by supporting the growth of certain white blood cells and antibody production, as noted in a study published in the Journal of personalized medicine 1.
- Additionally, it produces and protects molecules that help with the movement and removal of waste from the body.
- Despite these functions, humans can live normally without an appendix after surgical removal (appendectomy), as other parts of the immune and digestive systems can compensate for its absence. However, recent research suggests that the appendix may have a more significant role in human health than previously thought, with studies indicating a potential link between appendectomy and the development of certain diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and Parkinson's disease 1.
- A study published in 2023 found that the appendix microbiome is distinct from the gut microbiome and may play a role in the development of ulcerative colitis 2.
- Another study published in 2024 discussed the potential relationship between appendectomy and the development of colorectal cancer, highlighting the need for further research on the topic 3.
- The microbial composition of the appendix is subject to extreme variability and comprises a diversity of biota that may play an important, as-yet-unknown role in human health, as noted in a study published in 2013 4. Overall, while the appendix is not essential for human survival, it does appear to have important functions in the immune system and gut health, and further research is needed to fully understand its role in human health.