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Which of the following is a vestigial organ in the human body?
Heart
Appendix
Liver
Lungs
Appendix
The vermiform appendix is considered a vestigial organ in humans, as it has lost its original ancestral function of digesting cellulose. While it no longer plays a significant role in digestion, it is believed to act as a reservoir for beneficial gut bacteria.
The vermiform appendix is considered a vestigial organ in humans, as it has lost its original ancestral function of digesting cellulose. While it no longer plays a significant role in digestion, it is believed to act as a reservoir for beneficial gut bacteria.
Think of the appendix like an old, unused chimney in a modern house; it was vital for heating in the past, but now it mostly just sits there, occasionally causing trouble if something gets stuck inside.
A-V-E: Appendix is a Vestigial Element.
Vestigial organs are anatomical structures that have undergone reduction in size and function through the process of evolution. As human dietary habits shifted from high-fiber plant materials to cooked and processed foods, the large cecum and appendix used by herbivores for microbial fermentation of cellulose became largely redundant in the human lineage.
Vestigial structures are remnants of evolutionary history.
The human appendix is an extension of the cecum.
Evolution leads to the atrophy of structures that no longer provide a selective advantage.
May serve as a 'safe house' for gut flora to repopulate the digestive system after illness.
Susceptibility to inflammation and infection, known as appendicitis, which can be life-threatening if it ruptures.
Study of evolutionary biology and comparative anatomy
Understanding the human microbiome
Other human vestigial structures include the coccyx (tailbone), wisdom teeth, and the nictitating membrane (plica semilunaris) of the eye.
Heart, Liver, and Lungs are vital organs essential for survival, performing critical functions like blood circulation, metabolism, and respiration, respectively.
B is correct тАФ The appendix is a vestigial structure because it is a reduced remnant of a once-functional larger organ used by ancestral species for digesting cellulose.
In competitive exams, always distinguish between 'vestigial' (reduced function) and 'vital' (essential function) organs. If an organ is removed and the organism cannot survive without medical intervention, it is definitely not vestigial.
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