The appendix
Vermiform appendix · appendix vermiformis
A small, worm-shaped pouch hanging off the start of the large intestine.
What it does
The appendix is a narrow, finger-length tube attached to the first part of the large intestine, usually in the lower right abdomen. It contains lymphoid tissue, part of the immune system, and may act as a safe house for helpful gut bacteria.
Surprising fact
Its full name, vermiform, means "worm-shaped", and it is not as useless as once thought; it seems to help restock gut bacteria after illness.
Why it matters
When the appendix becomes blocked and inflamed, the result is appendicitis, with pain that often starts around the belly button and moves to the lower right. It is a medical emergency.
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.