The appendix is a vestigial organ left behind by human evolution. While the appendix has no specific function in the human digestive system, it is situated along the bottom right side of the large ...

It was the first day of spring break in 1992 in Phoenix, and 12-year-old Heather Smith was excited for her family's upcoming ski trip. But before Smith and her family had even packed their snow pants, ...

Appendicitis is a condition in which the appendix, a finger-shaped pouch that opens into the large intestine, becomes swollen and filled with pus. Appendicitis can be caused by a bacterial infection ...

If you were pressed to name body parts that you could do without, odds are good that the appendix would make what’s (hopefully) a short list. It’s a bit of a troublemaker, this testy tube of tissue ...

For years, the appendix was brushed off as a useless leftover from human evolution. Many of us grew up believing that it served no real purpose and was better off removed at the first sign of trouble.

Research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors likely play a role in the development of appendicitis. Genetic variations may affect the risk and severity of appendicitis. Appendicitis ...

For years, the appendix carried a reputation as the body’s most pointless organ. Doctors often removed it without hesitation, and textbooks labeled it a vestigial structure—something our ancestors ...

Although they are very rare, cancers of the appendix are on the rise, a new study finds. An analysis of a National Cancer Institute database found that compared with older generations, rates of ...