The vermiform appendix is not a vestigial organ and has immune functions
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 84/100
Modern anatomical and immunological research shows that the vermiform appendix is not a useless vestigial structure, but rather an organ involved in immune function and the maintenance of the gut microbiome.
Evidence for · 3
The appendix and ulcerative colitis - an unsolved connection.
2023 · cited by 26
Discusses the immunological function of the appendix and its association with mucosal immunity and ulcerative colitis.
See more details
More for · 2
The Vermiform Appendix and Its Pathologies.
2023 · cited by 13
Highlights the appendix's role in immune function, specifically in the maturation of B lymphocytes and immunoglobulin A production, as well as storing beneficial bacteria.
The vermiform cecal appendix, expendable or essential? A narrative review
2022 · cited by 5
Notes that the appendix has a high concentration of lymphoid tissue and serves as a biofilm safe-house for the microbiome, contradicting the notion that it is merely a redundant vestige.