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Appendectomy Center - Green Bay, WI

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Green Bay, Wisconsin

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Appendectomy

What is the appendix?

The appendix is a closed-ended, narrow tube that attaches to the cecum (the first part of the colon) like a worm. (The anatomical name for the appendix, vermiform appendix, means worm-like appendage.) The inner lining of the appendix produces a small amount of mucus that flows through the appendix and into the cecum. The wall of the appendix contains lymphatic tissue that is part of the immune system for making antibodies. Like the rest of the colon, the wall of the appendix also contains a layer of muscle.

What is appendicitis?

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. It is thought that appendicitis begins when the opening from the appendix into the cecum becomes blocked. The blockage may be due to a build-up of thick mucus within the appendix or to stool that enters the appendix from the cecum. The mucus or stool hardens, becomes rock-like, and blocks the opening. This rock is called a fecalith (literally, a rock of stool). At other times, the lymphatic tissue in the appendix may swell and block the appendix. Bacteria which normally are found within the appendix then begin to invade (infect) the wall of the appendix. The body responds to the invasion by mounting an attack on the bacteria, an attack called inflammation. (An alternative theory for the cause of appendicitis is an initial rupture of the appendix followed by spread of bacteria outside the appendix.. The cause of such a rupture is unclear, but it may relate to changes that occur in the lymphatic tissue that line the wall of the appendix.)

If the inflammation and infection spread through the wall of the appendix, the appendix can rupture. After rupture, infection can spread throughout the abdomen; however, it usually is confined to a small area surrounding the appendix (forming a peri-appendiceal abscess).

Sometimes, the body is successful in containing ("healing") the appendicitis with...

Recommended Reading Related to Appendectomy

The Digestive System »

Digestion Introduction

"Just a spoonful of sugar... " goes the song. But what happens to that sugar once you swallow it? In fact, how is it that you are able to swallow it at all? Your digestive system performs amazing feats every day, whether you eat a double cheeseburger or a stalk of celery. Read on to learn what exactly happens to food as it makes its way through your digestive system.

What Is Digestion?

Digestion is the complex process of turning the food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestion process also involves creating waste to be eliminated.

The digestive tract (or gut) is a long twisting tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. It is made up of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food and other cells that produce enzymes and hormones to aid in the breakdown of food. Along the way are three other organs that are needed for digestion: the liver, gallbladder, and the ...

Emergency Contact for Green Bay

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Green Bay Hospitals *

Bellin Hospital
744 S Webster Ave
Green Bay, WI 54301
(920)433-3500

St Vincent Hospital
835 S Van Buren St
Green Bay, WI 54301
(920)433-0111

Bellin Psychiatric Center
301 E St Joseph St
Green Bay, WI 54301
(920)433-3630

St Mary's Hospital Medical Center
1726 Shawano Ave
Green Bay, WI 54303
(920)498-4200

Brown County Mental Health Center
2900 St Anthony Dr
Green Bay, WI 54311
(920)391-4700

Aurora BayCare Medical Center
2845 Greenbrier Rd
Green Bay, WI 54311
(920)288-8000

Appleton Medical Center
1818 N Meade St
Appleton, WI 54911
(920)731-4101

Community Memorial Hospital Oconto Falls
855 S Main St
Oconto Falls, WI 54154
(920)846-3444

St Elizabeth Hospital
1506 S Oneida St
Appleton, WI 54915
(920)738-2000

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Fox Valley
130 Second St
Neenah, WI 54956
(920)969-7900

Theda Clark Medical Center
130 Second St
Neenah, WI 54956
(920)729-3100

Aurora Medical Center
5000 Memorial Dr
Two Rivers, WI 54241
(920)794-5000

Holy Family Memorial
2300 Western Ave
Manitowoc, WI 54220
(920)684-2011

Calumet Medical Center
614 Memorial Dr
Chilton, WI 53014
(920)849-2386

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