Appendix (anatomy)
| Appendix | |
|---|---|
Appendix with surrounding structures | |
Variations of the appendix | |
| Details | |
| Precursor | Midgut |
| System | Digestive system |
| Artery | Appendicular artery |
| Vein | Appendicular vein |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Appendix vermiformis |
| MeSH | D001065 |
| TA98 | A05.7.02.007 |
| TA2 | 2976 |
| FMA | 14542 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The appendix (pl.: appendices or appendixes; also vermiform appendix; cecal (or caecal, cæcal) appendix; vermix; or vermiform process) is a finger-like, blind-ended tube connected to the cecum.
The cecum is a pouch-like structure of the large intestine, located at the junction of the small and the large intestines. The term "vermiform" comes from Latin and means "worm-shaped". In the early 2000s, the appendix was reassessed and is no longer considered a vestigial organ. The appendix may serve as a reservoir for beneficial gut bacteria.