By appendix we can understand a portion of an organ that prolongs that organ. In the field of medicine, the most recognized appendix is the so-called ileocecal appendix, which is responsible for connecting the human digestive system at the beginning of the large intestine. It has a size that ranges between 6 and 12 cm in length and its diameter is approximately 5 mm, in addition, it is characterized by being hollow. The appendix can be located in different places, however the most common are: the pelvic and retro-caecal appendix. These variants in the anatomy are responsible for slight differences in symptoms in those cases in which said organ becomes inflamed.
In general, the appendix is located on the right side of the human body and is connected to the cecum, as mentioned above, despite the fact that there are several people who present situs inversus, which means that they present wrong alignment of the organs Inside the body, the appendix is located in the lower left. In the case of adults, the appendix usually has an average size of 10cm long, although, however, this figure is not always the same since there may be variants that range from 2 to 20 cm. Its diameter on the other hand is less than 7 or 8 mm., While the location can be: in the pelvis or extraperitoneal.
The most common pathology that this organ goes through is known as appendicitis, which is nothing more than the inflammation of the appendix. The condition usually appears first in the center of the abdomen. The most common form of treatment is the operation and it is important to note that if the treatment is not applied, appendicitis can lead to a more serious condition, such as peritonitis, which can cause dehydration in those who suffer from it and that must be added the generalized organic failure, even reaching a terminal instance such as death.
Similarly, the term appendix can be used as a synonym for addendum: it is what is added to a text in order to expand the contents of the main body. A book, a manual or a contract are some of the texts that may have appendices.
