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Appendectomy Center - Harrisonburg, VA

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Harrisonburg, Virginia

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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 Harrisonburg

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Harrisonburg Hospitals *

Rockingham Memorial Hospital
235 Cantrell Ave
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(540)433-4100

Commonwealth Center for Children
1355 Richmond Ave
Staunton, VA 24401
(540)332-2100

Western State Hospital
1301 Richmond Ave
Staunton, VA 24401
(540)332-8000

Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center
243 Woodrow Wilson Ave
Fishersville, VA 22939
(540)332-7000

Augusta Medical Center
78 Medical Center Dr
Fishersville, VA 22939
(540)932-4000

Page Memorial Hospital
200 Memorial Dr
Luray, VA 22835
(540)743-4561

Whisper Ridge Behavioral Health System
2101 Arlington Blvd
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434)977-1523

Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center
2270 Ivy Rd
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434)924-5161

UVA HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital
515 Ray C Hunt Dr
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434)244-2000

University of Virginia Children's Hospital
1215 Lee St
Charlottesville, VA 22908
(434)924-5437

University of Virginia Medical Center
1215 Lee St
Charlottesville, VA 22908
(434)924-0211

Shenandoah Memorial Hospital
759 S Main St
Woodstock, VA 22664
(540)459-4021

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