The appendix has long been a bit of a mystery . At its bad , it ’s considered a useless evolutionary throwback whose sole purpose is to give you a nasty case of appendicitis . However , one research squad of medical doctors have a theory of what intent this little organ could serve .

Researchers from theMidwestern UniversityArizona College of Osteopathic Medicine have mould ona studythat suggests it could serve as “ a reservoir ” for beneficial gut bacterium .

The appendix is a dirt ball - like landing strip that project off at the intersection of the modest and large intestine , called the blind gut . In the past tense , it has been widely view as a " vestigial organ " with no bonk present - Clarence Day function for humans . None other than Charles Darwinfirst theorizedit could be a rudimentary organ from an evolutionary root used to stand leaves . However , peculiarly , only a fistful of mammals have the   organ .

In this study , comrade professor of anatomy Heather Smith and her squad tracked the evolutionary history of the appendix by studying the cecum of 533 different mammal , from beavers and rabbit to common wombats and brushtail possums . Their research found it has evolved independently at least 30 separate clip in several mammal lineages . Rather interestingly , once the appendix appears , it almost   never disappears . This conduce them   to the estimate   that it could serve   some advantageous function .

Their report lay out to see if ecological agent – such as dieting , climate , and where an brute   lives –   correlated with which coinage have an appendix . rather , they   found that species with an appendix have higher average concentrations of lymphoid tissue , which is fundamental in creating an resistant response , in the caecum in the lower abdominal cavity .

Research over the past few years has present that lymphatic tissue can also nurture the growth of beneficial gut bacterium . This go the team to conclude that the organ run some role in the resistant system , particularly acting as a “ safe house ” for helpful catgut bacteria . That also means it is n’t   evolving on its own   as , but   as part of a big " cecoappendicular complex " .

The theory might not be set in pit , but at least they might have finally find the appendix some aim in life .