what is appendix

The appendix is a small, thin pouch that is attached to the large intestine, where feces forms. It is a finger-shaped pouch that sticks out from the colon on the lower right side of the belly, also called the abdomen. The appendix is a narrow, finger-shaped pouch that projects out from the colon. Nobody knows exactly what the appendix does, but removing it is not harmful. Appendicitis is a condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed, swollen, and filled with pus. The primary symptom of appendicitis is acute abdominal pain, which typically starts in the middle of the abdomen and then travels to the lower right-hand side, where the appendix usually lies. Appendicitis can cause serious complications, such as a burst appendix, which spreads infection throughout the abdomen, a condition called peritonitis. This condition requires immediate surgery to remove the appendix and clean the abdominal cavity. The standard treatment for appendicitis is to remove the appendix through surgery, called an appendectomy.