What does the appendix do? Biologists explain the complicated evolution of this inconvenient organ
Most people know only two things about the appendix: You don't need it—and if it bursts, you need surgery fast.
Mar 9, 2026
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MeSH tree: A03.556.249.249.209.290
Most people know only two things about the appendix: You don't need it—and if it bursts, you need surgery fast.
Mar 9, 2026
0
12
You may have heard that astronauts have their appendix removed before leaving Earth. After all, people say you can live without this organ because it serves no purpose, but how much truth is there in this belief?
Jun 12, 2025
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Bindi Irwin has reportedly been rushed to hospital in the United States to undergo emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix.
May 12, 2025
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The appendix, once dismissed as an unnecessary human organ, has more recently been shown to play a role in the immune system. However, we lack a clear understanding of how its removal to treat appendicitis affects long-term ...
May 9, 2024
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