From the appendix to the tonsils: these are the (not so) dispensable organs of the human body.
Some organs previously classified as “non-essential” in the human body actually have a role in our body.
Although it is possible to live without certain structures that we were born with, this does not mean that they are useless. On the contrary, as this week remembers.
O appendix is one of the classic examples. For a long time seen as vestigial, it is now known that it contributes to the balance of the intestinal microbiome and houses important immune cells, such as T and B lymphocytes. But its removal continues to be the treatment of choice in cases of appendicitis, an emergency that can cause serious complications, such as peritonitis.
Also the colona central part of the digestive system in the formation and elimination of waste, can be partially or completely removed in situations of cancer, intestinal obstruction or severe inflammatory disease. But this is an extreme intervention, usually accompanied by ostomy procedures and reserved for scenarios where more conservative alternatives do not exist.
A gallbladderresponsible for storing and releasing bile to help with the digestion of fats, is another organ that we often “remove” mainly due to symptomatic gallstones or, more rarely, cancer. Although it is not essential for survival, its absence can cause digestive difficulties, especially after meals rich in fat. Not all stone cases require surgery, and some doctors prefer to start with less invasive treatments.
In the field of the immune system, three organs have become, in the eyes of science, not so dispensable.
O spleen filters the blood, produces antibodies, stores blood cells and helps with iron metabolism. Its removal may be necessary in situations of internal bleeding, tumors or blood diseases, but it leaves the body more vulnerable to infections.
O timofor decades considered to be of little relevance in adulthood, has been associated in recent studies with the continuous regulation of the immune system throughout life.
His and tonsilsimportant in defense against inhaled or ingested microorganisms, are no longer routinely removed — today, tonsillectomy tends to be reserved for recurrent cases, sleep apnea or more serious illnesses.
