You may have heard that astronauts remove the appendix before leaving the earth. After all, it is said that we can live without this organ, because it is for nothing. But how much is there behind this belief?
Let’s start by finding it. The appendix is a pumpkin In localized finger -shaped where the small intestine joins the large intestine in Ceco.
Inflammation and infection of the appendix, known as appendicitiscan lead to organ break and subsequent widespread infection (peritonitis). If not treated, it can Turn-fatal.
In some long -term missions for remote and isolated areas – such as scientific missions in Antarctica or in space -Participants were previously required to undergo appendix removal surgery (apendicectomia) Before the match.
This was justified by limited access to medical facilities and difficulties in evacuating people from these remote areas in case of an emergency medical, explains the teacher of Spanish microbiology Ignacio López-Goñi in an article published in.
Like this, Remove the appendix before the astronauts departure Any eliminates risk of appendicitis and its complications Associated during the mission, thus helping to ensure the safety and well-being of those involved.
Apparently, There was no disadvantagesalthough we know now that in fact This is not the case.
For our ancestors, the appendix probably evolved to help them digest a diet rich in raw vegetables and cellulose, as still happens in many herbivorous mammals.
Thousands of years ago, it would function as an extension of the ceco, involved in the bacterial digestion of fibrous plant materials.
As the human diet diversified, becoming richer In animal proteins and more digestible cooked or fermented foods, there was less need for a bulky cecus and a functional appendix to digest cellulose.
As a result, the appendix reduced in size and lost its function Original digestive. For this reason, only one vestigial organ – A part of the body that was useful at the time but we can do without today.
A microbiome regulator
The appendix is however an important component of immune functionespecially at the beginning of life. It acts as a lymphoid organ similar to the intestines of the intestines, and contributes to the ripening of B lymphocytes (a variety of white blood cells) and the production of antibodies (type A) immunoglobulin, which are crucial to control the density and quality of the intestinal microbiota.
In addition, the appendix itself contains a very diverse microbiota and varied, including bacteria such as firmicutes, proteobacteria, bacteroidetes, actinobacterial and fusobacteria.
This diversity is distinct from other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, suggesting that it has a specialized role. The removal of the appendix has been associated with a reduction in bacterial diversity intestinal.
People who were subjected to an appendicectomy have a reduced amount of beneficial bacteria Producers of short -chain fatty acids, including rosebub, barnesiella, buttyricicococcus, odoribacter and buttyricimonas. This reduction in microbial diversity can lead to intestinal dysbiosis and potentially increase susceptibility to various diseases.
On the other hand, appendicectomy has also been associated with an increase in fungal diversity in the intestine.
This change in the microbial ecosystem suggests that the appendix can perform a role in equilibrium Between bacterial and fungal populations, potentially acting as a dirty intestinal microbiota reservoir that repopulate the colon after exposure to pathogenic agents or antibiotic treatment.
The appendix can still play a role in system protection Gastrointestinal against invading pathogenic agents.
This would explain why the surgical removal of the appendix has been associated with a worse prognosis for recurrent infection by cellsand to an increased risk of inflammatory intestinal disease and ulcerative colitis.
May even be related to the increase in the incidence of other conditions such as heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. The role of the appendix in maintaining microbial diversity seems, therefore, to be an organ Critic for General Health.
And then the astronauts?
Although the removal of the appendix has become a very routine procedure, we cannot ignore its potential risks.
Firstly, there are risks inherent in any surgery -Postoperative infections can occur in any surgical procedure, and appendicectomies are no exception.
A hemorrhage It is another possible complication that may arise during or after removal and, in rare cases, postoperative bleeding may require blood transfusions. In addition, an appendicectomy is usually performed under effect general anesthesiawhich entails its own additional risks set.
But as we have just seen, the appendix also plays a significant role in the regulation of the intestinal microbiome, contributing to its diversity. It is for this reason that the removal of the appendix as a preventive measure It is no longer recommended for astronauts.
NASA is aware that the potential risks associated with such an intervention Overcome their benefitsand prefers to focus on maintaining the overall health of astronauts while providing the necessary medical support during space missions.
