Which organs in the human body can be removed without affecting the survival of the individual?

Why can the appendix be removed because it is "useless"? What other "useless organs" are in the human body?

A. These 7 "useless organs" can survive after removal

In the clinic, sometimes the doctor will recommend the removal of some organs for the life of the patient, such as the appendix, stomach, gallbladder, etc., and after the removal of the patient's survival is not affected, as if these organs are inherently "useless".

In fact, at this stage of human evolution, every organ and tissue can not be useless, the reason why it is said to be useless is that humans can still survive after removing it.

1、Appendix

The appendix is an organ at the end of the appendix (connected), its full length of 5-7 centimeters, shaped like an earthworm. In the past, it was thought to be useless, but after in-depth research, it was found that: although the appendix is not involved in digestion and absorption, it has a certain immune effect.

It also protects the beneficial bacteria in the intestine, helping to maintain and balance the intestinal environment, and some studies have even found that it may have an anti-cancer effect, with a 40% increased risk of intestinal cancer in people who have had their appendix removed.

Despite this, doctors still recommend removing the appendix during an appendicitis attack because it has a limited role in the body, removal does not affect physiological function, and there is no clear evidence of a link to cancer.

In addition, the symptoms of appendicitis are severe, and the severe pain can be excruciating and life-threatening, so appendectomy is the optimal choice comparison.

2、Colon

The colon is an important part of the digestive system, absorbing water and electrolytes and managing the production and discharge of feces.

However, in the event of a major disease, such as familial adenomatous polyposis, the lesser of two evils will have to be removed to save the patient's life.

Colon removal can have an impact on life, so the surgery requires a fistula in the abdominal wall to ensure that the patient has a clear bowel movement, but the impact on life is not significant.

3. Tailbone

The tailbone is a triangular organ composed of 3-5 vertebrae. From the biological structure, it is the residue of the degeneration of the "tail" before human evolution, and now humans do not have a tail, so the tailbone is naturally useless.

When the tailbone is injured, after all, it is a bone fracture, which will produce severe pain, follow-up treatment is also very slow, and may also lead to visceral prolapse, affecting the health of the spine, so the best timely treatment, remove the tailbone.

4、Gallbladder

The gallbladder is the "container" of bile in the body, which can store and concentrate bile. It is prone to inflammation and stones, leading to biliary colic attacks, which may be surgically removed during treatment, such as cholecystitis and multiple gallbladder stones.

Gallbladder removal will not affect survival, but it may affect lipid metabolism and trigger diarrhea symptoms.

5. Kidneys

Normal people have two kidneys, and the kidneys have the super compensatory ability, as long as a small part of healthy kidneys can maintain physiological functions, so when facing serious situations such as injury, tumor, or lesions, doctors will also recommend removing part of the kidneys.

That is to say, by removing a part of the kidney, patients can still survive, but after surgery, we should pay attention to maintenance, and single kidney life not only to improve living habits but also to pay attention to nephrotoxic drugs and regular review.

6、Reproductive organs

Male and female reproductive organs are different, but they may also encounter some unexpected situations that require removal, which will affect the function of reproduction but will not affect survival.

Patients who need to have their reproductive organs removed clinically are most often women, who may need to have their reproductive organs removed due to ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids, or other reproductive tumors, which may affect endocrinology in addition to fertility. Men may also have their reproductive organs removed because of severe trauma and tumors of the reproductive system may be removed.

7. Stomach or spleen

During clinical treatment, it is sometimes necessary to remove the stomach or spleen to protect the patient. However, these two organs have a wide range of effects, and although a person can survive without the stomach and spleen, the physiological functions are extensively affected and the quality of survival will be reduced, and long-term maintenance and checkups are required for postoperative recovery and daily routine.

In addition, organs and tissues in the human body that appear to be useless and can be removed without affecting survival include the transeptal membrane (third eyelid), tonsils, wisdom teeth, sinuses, papillae, palmaris longus, etc., especially wisdom teeth, which are very popular for extraction in contemporary times.

Although the partial or total removal of these organs does not affect survival, no one usually removes them on purpose, but only when it is necessary to do so to reduce pain and protect life.

The underlying reason is that some organs have a role in the human body, and surgical removal itself is an injury, so it is better to avoid removal unless necessary.