Q: Why do you have an appendix if you can live without it?
A: Your appendix isn't like e-mail spam—totally unnecessary. A small pouch off the large intestine, the appendix has a wall that contains lymphatic tissue, making it part of the immune system for making antibodies. But while it serves a function, your body will adapt if you lose it. That's because several other areas in the body contain similar tissue—the spleen, lymph nodes and tonsils (the spleen and tonsils can also be removed). |
