What Is The Appendix?
The appendix is an elongated tube connected to the cecum. The appendix is usually 3 to 5 inches or 9 centimeters long on average. However, it can be as little as one and as high as eight inches or two to twenty centimeters in length. To be on far end of either side of that spectrum is very rare. The diameter is roughly 8 millimeters.
What Does The Appendix Do?
The worth of the appendix to the human body has been widely debated in the medical community for years. People have been getting their appendixes removed for years and have seen no ill effects as a result. Most actually perform better without it.
So what is the function of the appendix? Why does it exist in the first place? Experts in the medical community could really grasp an answer around these questions until about 10 years ago.
Randy Bollinger and William Parker and several other researchers from Duke University began to put to some background behind the function the appendix. They proposed the appendix gathers healthy bacteria when illness flushes it out of the digestive system. This helps fight off inflections and sickness.
This proposal falls in line several existing facts about the appendix. These facts include how the appendix is shaped, where it is located, and presence of immune tissue.
Research from other hospitals and universities suggest individuals without an appendix are three to four times as likely to gain infection due to lack of healthy bacteria and influx of bad bacteria in the digestive system. This is because they do not have their appendix to repopulate their digestive system full of good bacteria.
Other Functions Of The Appendix
As mentioned earlier, the appendix can play an important role in our immune systems and fighting off illness. More specifically, it can play a role in the lymphatic system which helps the appendix remove potentially harmful waste from the digestive system.
The appendix aids the movement of lymphatic cells to fight and provide defense from deadly infections and diseases. This also allows for the lymphatic cells to be more efficiently used.
What Side Of The Body Is Your Appendix On?
The appendix is located in the lower right hand quadrant of the abdomen. It is close to the right side of hip bone. It is also located two to three centimeters under where the large and small intestine are separated by ileocacal valve.
What Is Appendicitis?
This is a condition characterized inflammation, bacterial infection, or overgrowth in the appendix. Those most likely to suffer from this condition are between the ages of 12 to 35. Basically pre teens to young adults are most likely to get appendicitis.
This condition usually comes about when their is blockage within the organ and unhealthy bacteria begins to gather as a result. The blockage in the appendix can be created through different ways. Some of these ways are tumors, physical trauma, internal complications, fecal matter, etc.
The inflamed and/or infected appendix is coming to lead to pain in the midsection. The pain usually starts at the beginning of the abdomen and then slowly spreads to the lower right abdominal region.
Symptoms Of Appendicitis
– Vomiting
– Light sickness, and Fever
– Loss of appetite
– Severe pain in the lower right abdominal region
– Abdominal Swelling
– Nausea
– Numbness
– Diarrhea or Constipation
– Tumors and/or inflammation
– Increased body temperature
– Unable to pass gas
– Coughing, movement causes pain
If a you believe you are suffering form appendicitis and experiencing any of the symptoms listed above then you need to o see a doctor right away. A physician will perform a medical examination to determine if you have appendicitis.
What Is Appendectomy?
For those who suffer from appendicitis, the only way to permanently rd yourself of the symptoms is to remove the appendix from the body. This is a specific operation called appendectomy.
It is best that procedure is done as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the greater chance the appendix has of rupturing and bursting. That could lead to large bacterial leakage in the body and complicated medical issues.
Most people are at risk of appendix rupturing 24 to 48 hours after the diagnoses of appendicitis. So get the operation done as soon as possible.
After receiving the appendectomy, you should rest for a couple days. No strenuous activity and intense movements. If your appendix burst, then you might need to 10 to 14 days of bed rest.
Apply a pillow under you back for abdominal support. Apply pressure to your abs when you cough or breathe heavily to reduce pain.
You will most likely be prescribed pain killers (medication) to deal with the discomfort. After a couple days of rest, you can begin to perform light activities and perform movements that tare not too laboring on the human body.
If you are still experiencing any of the original symptoms of appendicitis then you need to call a physician immediately and find out what is wrong.
See also Lab values nursing
Conclusion
That is all of the relevant information you need to know about the appendix. It is located on the lower right side of the abdomen. It plays a couple different roles in the body but most experts believe it carries healthy bacteria and spreads through the digestive system in the case of illness or infection.
Watch out for symptoms of appendicitis. If you feel any of these symptoms listed above then call your physician right away. You will probably need to have your appendix removed, After that, take time to recover. You should be good to go about normal activities in a couple weeks.