Where is my appendix located?
Your appendix is a small pouch-like sac located on the lower right side of your abdomen. An inflamed appendix is called appendicitis and will cause mild to severe right-sided abdominal pain. It is important to know the location of your appendix and the warning signs of appendicitis at it can quickly become a medical emergency.
Where does appendicitis pain usually start?
Even though most of the appendix pain will be on your right abdomen, appendicitis pain usually starts near your belly button. Along with the pain, other warning signs of appendicitis are nausea, vomiting, and a fever. To treat appendicitis successfully, doctors have to surgically remove the appendix from your right stomach area.
Where is the appendix innervated by the spinal cord?
Both the appendix and the umbilicus are innervated by segment T10 of the spinal cord and hence the pain caused by appendicitis is first felt in the region of umbilicus (referred pain).
Is the Appendix A vestigial organ?
Although the appendix serves no digestive function, it is thought to be a vestigial remnant of an organ that was functional in human ancestors. The length varies from 2 to 20 cm with an average of 9 cm with diameter of about 5mm.
What is situs inversus of the appendix?
There is a medical condition called situs inversus, in which the person has some or all of his organs on the opposite side. In such condition, the appendix location would be on the left side. This condition does not pose any particular problem, if the person has got all his organs inverted.
What are the treatments for appendicitis?
The only treatment for appendicitis is to remove the inflamed appendix with an appendectomy. Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that an appendix is removed by making an incision in the abdomen where the appendix is located. Appendectomies are carried out as an emergency procedure to remove the appendix before it ruptures and the infection spreads. 14
What is the vermiform appendix?
The vermiform appendix is a narrow, worm-like appendage or pouch that is normally located on the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. However, it would be located on the left lower quadrant of the abdomen in case of people affected by situs inversus.
What are the symptoms of blockage of the appendix?
Blockage may also result from infection, since the appendix can swell in response to any infection in the body. What Are the Symptoms of Appendicitis? The classic symptoms of appendicitis include: Pain in your lower right belly or pain near your navel that moves lower. This is usually the first sign.
What happens when your appendix ruptures?
It is important to know the location of your appendix and the warning signs of appendicitis at it can quickly become a medical emergency. An inflamed appendix can rupture and cause agonizing pain on the right side of your lower stomach.
What is appendicitis?
Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes blocked, often by stool, a foreign body, or cancer. Blockage may also occur from infection, since the appendix can swell in response to any infection in the body.
How do you know if your appendix is inflamed?
One of the first painful signs that your appendix has become inflamed is abdominal pain that spreads to your lower right abdomen. The location of appendix pain can help to tell the symptoms apart from other reasons for stomach pain. Doctors from the National Health Service say that appendix pain usually starts in the middle of your abdomen.
What is the function of the appendix?
The Function of the Appendix. No one really knows what the appendix does in the body. However, one thing is certain, we can live without our appendix. Dr. Melissa Conrad Stöppler on MedicineNet explains that some theorize that the appendix has something to do with a child’s immune system.