key term - Appendix

Definition

The appendix is a small, tube-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine where it joins the small intestine. This organ has historically been considered vestigial, but recent studies suggest it plays a role in the immune system by harboring beneficial bacteria.

Related terms

Large Intestine:

The last part of the digestive system, responsible for absorbing water and electrolytes from digested material and forming solid waste.

Small Intestine:

A long, coiled tube where most of the digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs.

Vestigial Organ: An organ that has lost all or most of its original function through the course of evolution