Appendix (vermiform) (Appendix vermiformis)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
A 2–20 cm lymphoid tube from the caecum, classically retrocaecal/retro-ileal in ~65% but highly variable (pelvic, subcaecal, paracaecal). Supplied by the single appendicular artery (SMA branch) with no collateral anastomosis — thrombosis therefore means rapid gangrene.
Clinical notes
Appendicitis is the commonest surgical abdominal emergency: periumbilical pain migrating to McBurney point (a third from ASIS to umbilicus) with guarding and leukocytosis; distinguishing it from mesenteric adenitis in children is a clinical art.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Appendix (vermiform)?
A 2–20 cm lymphoid tube from the caecum, classically retrocaecal/retro-ileal in ~65% but highly variable (pelvic, subcaecal, paracaecal). Supplied by the single appendicular artery (SMA branch) with no collateral anastomosis — thrombosis therefore means rapid gangrene.
Why is the Appendix (vermiform) clinically important?
Appendicitis is the commonest surgical abdominal emergency: periumbilical pain migrating to McBurney point (a third from ASIS to umbilicus) with guarding and leukocytosis; distinguishing it from mesenteric adenitis in children is a clinical art.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details