What organs does a person not need?

Our body is a complex system that consists of various organs, performing one or another function, for example, the heart, which pumps our blood and it is impossible to live without it. Meanwhile, each of us also has a number of organs or their remains, as well as atavisms (signs that make us similar to the animal world), which do not participate in the life of the body and are not needed. Which organs in the human body superfluous and unnecessary?

Such organs can cause a number of troubles or, on the contrary, make us unique. Let's consider what Mother Nature forgot to remove from our body in the process of evolution, that is, unnecessary organs.

Appendix. Familiar to many. Once upon a time it participated in hematopoiesis, producing leukocytes - white blood cells. Now it does not have this function, but it is a source of infection. It may even come down to surgery.

Non-working muscles are muscles that do not perform any function.

a) subclavian - from the collarbone to the first rib;
b) palmar - between the wrist and elbow. Once upon a time it was she who helped our ancestors hang on the vine;
c) plantaris muscle. It is with its help that some people grasp objects with their toes;
d) external muscles on the ears. Dodgers wiggle their ears, surprising those around them. And in the distant past, our ancestors caught sounds this way.

Cervical ribs, which give the neck a swan-like appearance but can be an additional source of pain.

Coccyx. You guessed that this is the remnant of the tail, with the help of which our distant relatives kept their balance and showed their mood. Now it is only a problem upon impact.

Although we no longer look like monkeys, the vegetation on our bodies reminds us of our kinship with the animal world. Men were left with the most reminders. Some women also suffer from this.

It's good that it's now developed the whole system to combat excess hair. Previously, hair warmed and protected the skin of our ancestors.

With bristling fur, the animals frighten their enemies. In our case, this manifests itself during chills. Muscles lift hair follicles- “goose bumps” appear.

Men have nipples and something similar to a woman's uterus. In turn, in women, next to the ovaries there are male vas deferens, which tend to become inflamed.

Who hasn't encountered wisdom teeth? We're not getting wiser, but discomfort with their growth there may be.

Omitted brow ridges, especially noticeable in men.

Fangs are also greetings from a past animal life.

A long nose is inherent only to humans, in order to warm the inhaled air. But this advantage adds to nasal diseases.

Our nose has long been unable to distinguish the full variety of smells, but some can boast of this. Such people work as “sniffers”.

But let's not anger Her Majesty Nature. Maybe she knows better how a person should be structured. Maybe everything is natural and there is nothing superfluous in our organ system.

The wings of a flightless bird and the eyes of a deep-sea fish are all manifestations of an evolutionary quirk called “vestigation.” The existence of such excesses in the body is not justified by anything, but is steadily transmitted from generation to generation. We will talk about the most famous human rudiments and how they arose.

Coccyx

The most famous rudiment inherited from ancient ancestors is the coccyx (coccyx), a triangular bone formed by the fusion of 4-5 vertebrae. It once formed the tail, an organ for maintaining balance that also serves to transmit social signals. As man became an upright creature, all these functions were transferred to the forelimbs, and the need for a tail disappeared.

However, on early stages During development, the human embryo has a tail process, which is often preserved. About one in fifty thousand babies are born with a tail, which can be easily removed without harm to the body.

Appendix

The vermiform appendix of the cecum (appendix vermiformis) has long ceased to play any role in human body. Presumably, it served for long-term digestion of solid foods - for example, cereals. The second theory is that the appendix acted as a reservoir for digestive bacteria, where they multiplied.

The adult appendix ranges from 2 to 20 centimeters in length, but in most cases its length is approximately ten centimeters. Inflammation vermiform appendix(appendicitis) is a very common disease - it accounts for 89 percent of all surgical operations abdominal cavity.

Wisdom tooth

Third molars (molars) got their name because they erupt much later than all other teeth, at the age when a person becomes “wiser” - 16-30 years. The main function of wisdom teeth is chewing; they serve to grind food.

However, in every third person on Earth they grow incorrectly - they do not have enough space on the jaw arch, as a result of which they either begin to grow to the sides or injure their neighbors. In such cases, wisdom teeth have to be removed.

Vitamin C synthesis

Lack of vitamin C ( ascorbic acid) in the body can lead to scurvy with subsequent fatal. However, humans cannot independently synthesize this vitamin in their bodies, unlike most primates and other mammals.

Scientists have long assumed that humans had an organ responsible for the production of ascorbic acid, but confirmation of this was discovered only in 1994. Then a pseudogene was found responsible for the production of vitamin C, similar to that found in Guinea pigs. But modern man this function is disabled at the genetic level.

Vomeronasal organ (VNO)

IN social behavior animal pheromones play a dominant role. With their help, females attract males, and the gentlemen themselves mark the territory under their control. Most emotions are accompanied by the release of pheromones - fear, anger, peace, passion. A person relies more on the verbal and visual components of social communication, so the role of pheromone recognition is minimized.

Goose pimples

Goosebumps (cutis anserina) occur when the pilomotor reflex is triggered. The main motivators of this reflex are cold and danger. Wherein spinal cord produces peripheral stimulation nerve endings, which lift hairline.

So in case of cold, raised hair allows you to retain more thermal air inside the cover. If danger arises, the increase in hair gives the animal a more massive appearance. In humans, the pilomotor reflex remains a vestige, since thick hair was lost during evolution

Male nipples

One of the earliest scientific theories suggested that nipples are a sign of a man's ability to breastfeeding, which was lost in the process of evolution. However later research showed that none of the males of our ancestors had such a body function.

Currently, it is generally accepted that nipples are formed at that stage of embryo development when its sex is not determined. And only later, when the embryo begins to produce hormones on its own, can it be determined who will be born - a boy or a girl.

Our body is a complex system that consists of various organs that perform one or another function. Meanwhile, each of us also has a number of organs or their remains, as well as atavisms (signs that make us similar to the animal world), which in the life of the body have lost all or part of their functions. What organs are superfluous in the human body?

1. Coccyx.
This lower section spine, which consists of three or five fused vertebrae. He represents nothing other than our vestigial tail. Despite its vestigial nature, the coccyx is quite important body(like other rudiments, which, although they have lost most of their functionality, still remain very useful for our body), but it is also a problem when hit.

2. Appendix.
Familiar to many. Once upon a time it participated in hematopoiesis, producing leukocytes - white blood cells. Now it does not have this function, but it is a source of infection. It may even come down to surgery.

3. Wisdom teeth.
Who hasn't encountered wisdom teeth? We are not becoming wiser, but there may be unpleasant sensations as they grow. Wisdom teeth are considered rudiments: at one time they were necessary for our ancestors, but after the diet of Homo sapiens changed significantly (consumption of hard and tough foods decreased, people began to eat food that had been subjected to heat treatment), and the volume of the brain has increased (as a result of which nature “had” to reduce the jaws of Homo sapiens) - wisdom teeth resolutely “refuse” to fit into our dentition.

4. Body hair.
Without a doubt, once upon a time, about 3 million years ago, we were completely covered with them. But with the advent of erectus, they became of no use to us.

5. The effect of piloerection or “goose bumps”.
When reacting to cold, raised hairs help ensure that the layer of air heated by the body is retained at the surface of the skin. When reacting to danger, raised hair makes the animals look more massive and gives them a frightening appearance.

6. Tonsils or tonsils.
They catch bacteria, but they are also prone to swelling and are not resistant to infection. Children often experience this themselves. Fortunately, our tonsils decrease in size with age, and if they cause any problems, they are removed.

7. Ear muscles.
They are the muscles of the head surrounding auricle. The ear muscles (or rather, what is left of them) are a classic example of vestigial organs. This is understandable, because people who can move their ears are quite rare - much less common than people who do not have a tailbone, appendix, etc. rudiments. Functions performed ear muscles among our ancestors, are quite understandable: of course, they helped to move our ears in order to better hear an approaching predator, rival, relatives or prey.

8. Epicanthus.
This rudiment is characteristic only of the Mongoloid race (or, for example, of the African Bushmen - the very ancient people on the planet, whose descendants, in fact, we all are) and represents skin fold upper eyelid, which we see with an eastern section of the eyes. By the way, it is thanks to this fold that the effect of “narrow” Mongoloid eyes is created.

9. Nipples in men.
Men have nipples and something similar to a woman's uterus. In turn, in women, next to the ovaries there are male vas deferens, which tend to become inflamed.

The wings of a flightless bird and the eyes of a deep-sea fish are all manifestations of an evolutionary quirk called “vestigation.” Our ancestors also left us a rich legacy of such excesses. Some organs and parts of the body, which seem to be unnecessary, are steadily passed down from generation to generation and remind us of the animal origin of man. Today we will talk about the most famous rudiments of man, and what kind of future is in store for them.

Coccyx

The most famous rudiment inherited from ancient ancestors is the coccyx (coccyx), a triangular bone formed by the fusion of the last vertebrae of the spine. They once formed a tail, which for modern primates remains not only an organ for maintaining balance, but also serves to transmit social signals. As man became an upright creature, all these functions were transferred to the forelimbs - and the need for a tail disappeared.

Scientists believe that the tail disappeared in the bulk of our population more than a million years ago. However, in the early stages of development, the human embryo has a tail process, which is often retained. Approximately one in fifty thousand babies is born with a tail, which is usually easily removed without harm to the body.

Little toes

Before humans walked upright, our toes were used for grasping, just like our hands. Since people began to walk more than climb trees, the toes began to decrease in size, and were previously perpendicularly set apart. thumb leveled out. Now our feet are unable to grasp even small branches, and evolution has almost eliminated our little toes.

While the other toes (especially the big toe) serve to stabilize the body when walking, the little toes do not have any function. We would hardly even notice the disappearance of the little finger! For this reason, and also because of the problems from its useless existence (hitting against any protruding object and rubbing while walking), we can expect that people of the future will have only four toes.

Body hair

For many reasons, the human body has already lost most of its hair - and over time, most likely, humanity will become increasingly bald. Women in many cultures are considered more attractive if they lack hair on their legs and other parts of their bodies. Since the absence of hair provides an individual with an advantage in sexual attractiveness, then over time women can evolve in such a way that unwanted hair will be completely absent from their bodies. But this trick is unlikely to work with men - after all, the presence of precisely those hormones that are responsible for the growth of mustaches and beards makes them attractive to the fair sex.

It is also worth remembering about the goosebumps that occur when the pilomotor reflex is triggered - in other words, a reaction to cold and danger. In this case, the spinal cord excites peripheral nerve endings, which raise the hair. So in case of cold, raised hair allows you to retain more warm air inside the cover. If danger arises, the increase in hair gives the animal a more massive appearance. In humans this reflex remains a vestige, since thick hair was lost in the process of evolution.

Male nipples

One early scientific theory suggested that nipples were a sign of a man's ability to breastfeed, which was supposedly lost during evolution. However, later studies showed that none of the males of our ancestors had such a body function.

It is currently generally accepted that nipples in humans (as well as in other mammals) are formed at that stage of embryonic development when its sex is not differentiated. And only later, when the embryo begins to produce hormones on its own, can it be determined who will be born - a boy or a girl.

Appendix

Not so long ago there was an opinion that the vermiform appendix of the cecum had ceased to play any role in the human body. There is a theory that for our ancestors it was like a second stomach - it digested nut husks, bark and tree branches. And, since today we eat more “refined”, there is no need for it.

However, today scientists no longer doubt that they hastened to classify the appendix as a vestigial organ. He will not disappear anywhere, because he still performs the series important functions in our body. Firstly, it is necessary for the development of immunity. If the appendix is removed in childhood, then the child may experience serious problems with immunity.

Secondly, the appendix acts as a reservoir for digestive bacteria, where they multiply. However modern diet For many people, it is too low in fiber, which is why the natural functioning of this organ is disrupted. The result is inflammation of the appendix (appendicitis) - alas, it accounts for up to 90% of all surgical operations in the abdominal cavity.

Wisdom teeth

Third molars, better known as “wisdom teeth,” got their name because they erupt much later than all other teeth - at the age when a person becomes “wiser” (16-30 years). The main function of wisdom teeth is chewing; they serve to grind rough food.

However, in every third person on Earth, they grow incorrectly - they do not have enough space on the jaw arch, which, due to changes in our diet, is evolving towards reduction. As a result, the “gift of nature” turns into a huge problem: wisdom teeth either begin to grow to the sides or injure their neighbors. In such cases they have to be removed. Often this is done in the same way if you want to straighten your bite with braces.

Scientists believe that within 1000 years, wisdom teeth will gradually disappear. But that is not all. Research shows that over the past 100,000 years, human teeth have halved in size. Human jaws have also become smaller, as they no longer have to be supported by huge fangs. Therefore, we can safely say that the size of teeth will continue to decrease.

It is commonly believed that every organ human body, performing certain specific functions, rightfully takes its place and in its absence the body becomes defective. In other words, there is nothing unnecessary in a person: every bone, every muscle, every vessel in physiological processes fulfills its clearly defined function.

But, as it turned out, this assumption is not entirely true. The fact is that, in addition to the necessary organs, the human body contains two types of organs, the role of which is not entirely clear. These are rudiments, or remnants of organs that have lost their original functions in the process of human evolution, and atavisms - signs that were characteristic of distant ancestors. In total, scientists count about 90 such “extra” structures in the human body.

Take the muscles, for example. It turns out that among them there are many who, in general, are not busy with anything. For example, the subclavian muscle, which connects the first rib to the collarbone, has no function. The same applies to the muscle of the palm, which connects the elbow to the wrist: it has lost the ability to support a person in weight, since it is of no use to him. However, 12% of people do not have it at all.

And with the help of the rudimentary plantaris muscle, some people can grip with their toes. small items, and even write, draw, knit. Some people, as a memory of the past, have preserved the external muscles of the ears, which allow them to move the auricle.

Now let's turn to the skeleton. It also contains vestigial organs. So, additional cervical ribs do not play any positive role. But when a person experiences significant stress or his body occupies a certain position, they compress the neurovascular bundle, causing pain. However, you can get rid of them only after surgery.

The same goes for excess cervical vertebra: giving the neck a swan-like elegance, it, at the same time, often becomes a source of pain.

Beard and mustache are considered an atavism

What about the tailbone? This is a rudimentary tail, which a person hardly needs. Moreover, it can bring a lot of trouble. For example, its fracture often causes such severe pain that to eliminate them it is necessary to use a drug blockade.

And take human nose. A number of researchers believe that the nasal bones are also a rudiment. And if they were smaller in size, then the incidence of ear, nose and throat diseases would be much lower.

Low brow ridges, abnormalities in the structure of the jaws, and pronounced fangs, that is, structures that were inherited from our distant ancestors, do not decorate a person.

As for atavisms, humans also have a lot of them. For example, secondary sexual characteristics in men: beard, mustache, as well as hair-covered chest, back and limbs. Eyebrows also fall into this category.

When we are overcome with chills, and this happens with a cold or fright, we feel “goosebumps” crawling across our body. “Goosebumps” are a reflex reaction of the muscles to a possible threat, raising the hair follicles. And the more hair on the body, the more noticeable this “ant” swarming. Apparently, our ancestors reacted to the appearance of uninvited guests with bristling hair.

As atavisms, nature also left additional genital organs for representatives of the human race: for example, for men - nipples and a structure similar female uterus, and for women - the clitoris, as well as the masculine vas deferens, located next to the ovaries.

Wisdom teeth, which grow in a person in a relatively late age, also from a series of atavisms. And if you ancient man they accepted Active participation in the crushing of rough food, they are currently a breeding ground for caries.

The human nose has long been unable to respond to many subtle odors. And yet, some people retain the ability to detect a subtle aroma, which allows them to work in the perfume industry as specialists in composing perfume compositions.

There are also organs in our body, the importance of which is still not fully determined, although it is difficult to believe.

Take, for example, two tonsils. Almost everyone knows about their existence. In fact, there are more tonsils: as many as six. At the transition from oral cavity and the nasal cavity into the pharynx they form a so-called ring.

It is these loose, similar to almond, education was accused of a host of different sins: the appearance of sore throat, heart disease, stunted growth, low academic performance among schoolchildren... In short, they attributed everything that the soul desired. And therefore, in order to rid the body of these carriers of evil, the tonsils were mercilessly removed. And the most different ways: cut out with a scalpel, grabbed with a hook and even scratched out with fingers.

And suddenly it turned out that the tonsils are not the evil demons of the body at all. And they are busy not only with the secretion of mucus, which lubricates the pharynx as food passes through it, but also with the synthesis of special substances that have biological effect on cells involved in hematopoiesis. If this is the case, it means that tonsils should be removed only in exceptional cases, especially in children under seven years of age.

Just like the tonsils, doctors have ambivalent attitudes towards the appendix. And, despite the fact that, according to medical statistics, approximately four out of a thousand people have two processes, doctors for a long time They couldn’t figure out what the general role of this formation is in the body. And some doctors even considered the appendix not only unnecessary, but also a harmful organ. Therefore, they treated him the same way as with tonsils: they removed them without proper indications. And the doctors did this for a good purpose, as it seemed to them: after all, this organ often becomes inflamed, causing complications that have to be eliminated surgically.

Removing the appendix does not seem to affect a person’s functional functions, and by old age it often completely atrophies. And it also happens that healthy people the appendix is completely absent.

But development medical science forced doctors to change their old views on this organ. In contrast to previously prevailing ideas, an opinion emerged about the desirability of the presence of the appendix in the body. Careful research has revealed a lot of nerve elements in it, which it most likely supplies to other parts of the intestine.

In addition, back in the late 1970s, they found in the appendix The lymph nodes, which play, although not the main, but still a certain role in the functioning of the immune system.

Already in the 2000s, American physiologists suggested that thanks to the appendix, the body more effectively fights the consequences of gastrointestinal diseases. Scientists believe that the bacteria necessary for normal functioning intestines, just in the appendix and wait acute disorders digestion.

Researchers also suggested that inflammation of the appendix is due to the fact that a person Lately started eating clean products. And therefore the workload of the organ, which, according to scientists, plays vital role in normalization of functions gastrointestinal tract, is insignificant, which is the reason for its inflammation.

Since the appendix was formed over many millions of years of evolution, in a relatively short period of development human civilization he simply couldn't adjust. Moreover, it is possible that he is even involved in some hitherto unknown processes. Therefore, currently recommendations for surgical removal Doctors began to give appendix with caution.

The spleen is another organ that a person can live without, although it performs a number of very important functions in the body. First, it produces lymphocytes, which carry out immune control of the blood. Secondly, it is also a giant filter located within great circle blood circulation: in just one minute it passes through itself from 100 to 200 milliliters of blood. Thirdly, it is also a “cemetery of red blood cells”, because they die in it, as well as a depot of iron, which, after the destruction of red blood cells, remains in it for storage for further use.

So it’s hardly worth talking about the uselessness of this organ, especially since the range of its functions is expanding.

But in the Middle Ages it was believed that the spleen allegedly interfered with running. And, in order to increase the running qualities of walkers and footmen, it was sometimes removed.

So, time and the progress of science have changed the views of scientists on “unnecessary” organs. It turned out that even if a person can live without a spleen, tonsils and appendix, this does not mean that he does not need them.

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