Michael Bjorklund,

Biology review

Human Biology, BIOL-1090

 

This paper on systems of the body gave me a chance to explore in more depth an illness I had. Before this I had an idea of how the appendix worked and different procedures used in surgery, but now I have been able to understand much more. The body is such a fascinating object, it is so complex and works so well. what a great opportunity this class has been to learn about this wonderful gift we all have.


Michael Bjorklund

System of the body, Digestive system, Appendix

 

                Many people have heard of the appendix actually never know what it is, what it’s used for, and how we need to be aware if it ever becomes infected. I had probably heard of it once before I was diagnosed with appendicitis. This little organ in the digestive system of the human body can be the source of great pain and even death.1 There are many parts to the appendix; the focus of the essay will be to give a basic overview of the appendix, my experience with appendicitis and appendicitis its causes and appendectomy, or how the appendix is removed.

                The human appendix is located where the small intestine meets the large intestine. During this stage of the digestive process food enters the large intestine and moves up it, the extra water is extracted and feces are formed. The problem here is the appendix is located at the bottom of the entrance into the large intestine. Here it is prone to particles of food, bacteria, feces, and other irritants to fall into it leading to infection.2 Animals however, use the appendix as another source to introduce vial into the intestines allowing for further digestions to take place and for the animal to extract more nutrients from its meal.

                Scientist still don’t know what use it has for the human body, we do know however, that these little finger like pouch can lead to the death of someone very quickly. I remember six years ago on father’s day night. I had just been eating a wonderful Sunday meal and I started to fill nauseous, thinking I had the flu or food poisoning I went and laid down, it wasn’t long till I felt extremely sharp pain in my abdomen. I couldn’t find a position to be comforted. My dad took me to the Emergency Room and I was operated on a few hours later. The doctor explained to me that if I had not had my appendix removed within an hour or two more, it would have burst and infected my entire digestive system, plus neighboring organs.

                When the Appendix becomes infected there is nothing you can do but operate on it. If you do not operate quickly enough it will enflame enough till it literally erupts. This eruption makes the infection spread to other organs and infect them causing your lower abdominal organs to fail. If this isn’t treated within a few days it will be fatal. The operation with today’s technology is much more efficient and quick. There are two ways to remove the appendix. One is the Open Method. In this method, a two to three inch incision is mad in the lower right hand side of the abdomen. The surgeon locates the appendix and removes it through the incision. The second is Laparoscopic Method. This procedure uses several small incisions and three or more laparoscopes- small thin tubes with video cameras attached- to visualize the inside of the abdomen during the operation. The surgeon performs the surgery while looking at a TV Monitor. The appendix is removed through one of the inscisions.3

                The human appendix has become an organ that our bodies don’t really need to survive. If we fail to protect this organ and it becomes infected we will die. All people should be taught the basics about the appendix so that if they end up as I did they will know to get to the hospital and not try to tough it at home, hoping that it will get better. The body is a complex instrument and should be cared for and studied so that we can prevent future problems or catch them as before they get out of hand.

 

Sources

1.       MedlinePlus, A service of the U.S. National Library of  Medicine NIH National Institutes of Health, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/appendicitis.html

2.       U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), Appendicitis, http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/appendicitis/

3.       John Hopkins Medicine, Health Library, Appendectomy, http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/test_procedures/gastroenterology/appendectomy_92,P07686/