vermiform appendix - Hutchinson encyclopedia article about vermiform appendix Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
3,577,372,168 visitors served.
forum Join the Word of the Day Mailing List For webmasters
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

appendix
(redirected from vermiform appendix)

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.

appendix

Enlarge picture
The human digestive system. When food is swallowed, it is moved down the oesophagus by the action of muscles (peristalsis) into the stomach. Digestion starts in the mouth and continues in the stomach as the food is mixed with enzymes and strong acid. After several hours, the food passes to the small intestine. Here more enzymes are added and digestion is completed. After all nutrients have been absorbed, the indigestible parts pass into the large intestine and thence to the rectum. The liver has many functions, such as storing minerals and vitamins and making bile, which is stored in the gall bladder until needed for the digestion of fats. The pancreas supplies enzymes. The appendix appears to have no function in human beings.

Short, blind-ended tube attached to the caecum. It has no known function in humans, but in herbivores it may be large, containing millions of bacteria that secrete enzymes to digest grass (as no vertebrate can secrete enzymes that will digest cellulose, the main constituent of plant cell walls).

The appendix secretes antibodies into the gut and so plays a role in the body's immune system, though it is not a vital one, as patients survive perfectly well following removal of the appendix. (See appendicitis.)

appendix

Information, additional or explanatory, added at the end of the book; a reference to the appendix is usually signalled in a footnote to the text.



How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Feedback
?Sign in SSL protected
Email:
Password:
Register

Mentioned in?  References in periodicals archive?   Hutchinson browser?   Full browser?
 
Appendicitis refers to inappropriate activity of the vermiform appendix, a worm-shaped extension of the colon.
White blood cell count can sometimes confirm presumptive diagnoses of appendicitis, as high levels of white cells may suggest a severe infection of the vermiform appendix.
Key Words: appendicitis, myonecrosis, obturator hernia, surgery, vermiform appendix ********** Obturator hernia is the most frequently encountered pelvic floor hernia.
 
 
 
Hutchinson Encyclopedia
?

Terms of Use | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2012 Farlex, Inc.
Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.