The appendix is good for something afterall

Back in my teaching days, I occasionally gave a lesson on useless body parts. The list would include discussions on the wisdom teeth, the sinuses, the coccyx, and male nipples. Students were surprised to learn that we still have muscles specifically for hanging from trees or walking on all fours, and that women have sperm ducts in their ovaries.

Until recently, the appendix was a regular on the useless list. This 4-inch-long sac at the juncture of the small and large intestines is known mostly for getting infected and bursting. Recently, researchers at the Duke University Medical Center have concluded that the appendix has a back-up role in the digestive process. The appendix stores a variety of good bacteria, the kind that healthy intestines use to break down nutrients. These bacteria can be deployed to repopulate the intestines after a catastrophic decease and diarrhea clears the contents of the intestines.

Now, what about those male nipples? link