It turns out that the appendix appears to have two related functions. The first function is supporting the immune system. The appendix has a high concentration of immune tissue, so it’s acting to help the immune system fight any bad things in the gut.

The second function that it serves is what we refer to as the safe house. So this was a hypothesis that was put forward by a team from Duke University in 2007. And they argued that the appendix may serve as a safe reservoir for the beneficial gut bacteria that we have.

  • I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world
    26·
    5 months ago

    Pretty much every organ doctors have claimed is “useless” winds up being tied to the immune system. Other than the brain, it is the most complex and least understood system of the body. Not because we haven’t studied it, but because every time we do, we just keep learning more and more.

    Spend some time around an immunology lab and you’re bound to hear the occasional cry of “Not another fucking protein!”

    • The_v@lemmy.world
      45·
      5 months ago

      Strange that dynamic system that has to adapt to a wide selection of rapidly changing pathogens under various environmental conditions would be extremely complicated.

      Go figure…