Anatomy Organs What Does the Appendix Do? By Lana Bandoim Lana Bandoim Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Lana Bandoim is a science writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering complex health topics. Learn about our editorial process Published on June 08, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Jane Kim, MD Medically reviewed by Jane Kim, MD LinkedIn Jane Kim, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and is currently a medical editor and writer. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Where Is It? What Does It Do? Health Problems Appendicitis Symptoms Surgery vs. Antibiotics Aftercare and Recovery Frequently Asked Questions The appendix is a small organ located in your lower right abdomen. Although the medical community has been aware of the appendix for centuries, the function of this organ is not clear or fully understood. This article will explain more about the appendix and how to recognize signs of appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix). Shidlovski / Getty Images Where Is Your Appendix? The appendix is a small tube that is located in the lower right side of your abdomen. The appendix branches off from the large intestine. It resembles a finger or worm. What Does the Appendix Do? The appendix was discovered 400 years ago, but its function was not clear. Charles Darwin believed the appendix was a useless leftover organ from evolution that served no purpose. For centuries, the medical community agreed with Darwin and did not think the appendix was necessary and that it had no impact on a person's health unless it became infected or inflamed. Multiple Theories In recent years, the medical community has learned more about the appendix. Multiple theories have emerged about the function of the appendix and what it may do in the human body. One theory is that the appendix stores good gut bacteria that help digestion, support the immune system, and keep bad bacteria in check. If you have diarrhea or another digestive disorder that wipes out your good bacteria, the good bacteria can leave the appendix to repopulate the gut. Another theory is that the appendix has immune system cells that work to recognize and respond to disease-producing organisms and toxins. These immune cells may protect you from bacterial infections. Health Problems Related to the Appendix Inflammation and infection can affect the appendix. This may lead to appendicitis. Your appendix can also become blocked because of: Hard stoolEnlarged tissues inside the appendixParasites or intestinal wormsObjects you eat and cannot digest Appendicitis Symptoms Appendicitis is inflammation that happens inside your appendix. If you suspect you may have appendicitis, it is considered a medical emergency. You should seek medical care right away. The symptoms of appendicitis include: Loss of appetite Nausea Vomiting Constipation or diarrhea Fever Abdominal (belly) bloating and swelling Stomach pain that starts in the belly button area and moves to the lower right area Stomach pain that does not go away and becomes worse over time Stomach pain that becomes worse if you walk, sneeze, or cough Get Emergency Medical Help Appendicitis is a medical emergency. You need to see a healthcare provider or go to an emergency room immediately when symptoms develop. Effectiveness of Surgery vs. Antibiotics To treat appendicitis, your healthcare provider may choose from surgery or antibiotics. Surgery may be necessary to remove the appendix and prevent it from bursting. A burst appendix can spread infection throughout your body and may lead to severe illness or death. In some cases, your healthcare provider may give you antibiotics to treat appendicitis if there is a low risk of the appendix bursting. Antibiotics can be just as effective as surgery to treat appendicitis, but they can only be used in cases that are not severe. Aftercare and Recovery If you have surgery for appendicitis, your surgeon will give you specific instructions to follow at home. In general, you may need to: Avoid strenuous activities, like jogging.Avoid lifting heavy objects for two weeks.Avoid taking baths until your surgeon says you can.Rest when you feel tired.Get enough sleep.Take short walks.Drink plenty of water.Take any medicines prescribed. Summary The appendix is a small organ located in your lower right abdomen. For centuries, the medical community believed it served no purpose and had no function. In recent years, multiple theories about the function of the appendix have circulated. Research is ongoing to determine any role the appendix may have in gut health. A Word From Verywell If you suspect you have appendicitis, seek help right away. Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires fast diagnosis and treatment. Reach out to your healthcare provider and go to the emergency room to get care. Frequently Asked Questions Is the appendix useless? No, the appendix is not useless. Recent research shows that the appendix is an important organ that affects your immune system and gut health. Scientists continue to learn more about the appendix. Do probiotics do anything for the appendix? It is not clear from recent research if probiotics (friendly bacteria normally present in the digestive tract) can have a direct impact on your appendix. However, probiotics may help digestive health in specific circumstances and may lower the risk of diarrhea caused by antibiotics. What can you do to promote a healthy appendix? To promote the general health of your large intestine and appendix, you may want to:Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fiberDrink enough fluidsExercise regularly Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. MedlinePlus. Appendicitis. Killinger B, Labrie V. The appendix in Parkinson’s disease: from vestigial remnant to vital organ? J Parkinsons Dis. 2019;9(s2):S345-S358. doi:10.3233/JPD-191703 Vitetta L, Chen J, Clarke S. The vermiform appendix: an immunological organ sustaining a microbiome inoculum. Clin Sci (Lond). 2019;133(1):1-8. doi:10.1042/CS20180956 Salminen P, Paajanen H, Rautio T, et al. Antibiotic therapy vs appendectomy for treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis: the APPAC randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2015;313(23):2340-2348. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.6154 Su G, Ko C, Bercik, P, ET al. AGA clinical practice guidelines on the role of probiotics in the management of gastrointestinal disorders. Gastroenterology. 2020;159(2):697-705. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.05.059