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Appendectomy Center - Taunton, MA

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Taunton, Massachusetts

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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 Taunton

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Taunton Hospitals *

Morton Hospital & Medical Center
88 Washington St
Taunton, MA 02780
(508)828-7000

Taunton State Hospital
60 Hodges Ave
Taunton, MA 02780
(508)977-3000

New Bedford Rehabilitation Hospital
4499 Acushnet Ave
New Bedford, MA 02745
(508)995-6900

Charlton Memorial Hospital
363 Highland Ave
Fall River, MA 02720
(508)679-3131

Saint Anne's Hospital
795 Middle St
Fall River, MA 02721
(508)674-5600

Sturdy Memorial Hospital
211 Park St
Attleboro, MA 02703
(508)222-5200

Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton
940 Belmont St
Brockton, MA 02301
(508)583-4500

St Luke's Hospital
101 Page St
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508)997-1515

Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital
680 Centre St
Brockton, MA 02302
(508)941-7000

Arbour-Fuller Hospital
200 May St
South Attleboro, MA 02703
(508)761-8500

Bradley Hospital
1011 Veterans Memorial Pkwy
Riverside, RI 02915
(401)432-1000

Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island
111 Brewster St
Pawtucket, RI 02860
(401)729-2000

Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center
235 N Pearl St
Brockton, MA 02301
(508)427-3000

Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton
909 Sumner St
Stoughton, MA 02072
(781)297-8411

Butler Hospital
345 Blackstone Blvd
Providence, RI 02906
(401)455-6200

Tobey Hospital
43 High St
Wareham, MA 02571
(508)295-0880

The Miriam Hospital
164 Summit Ave
Providence, RI 02906
(401)793-2500

Hasbro Children's Hospital
593 Eddy St
Providence, RI 02903
(401)444-4000

Rhode Island Hospital
593 Eddy St
Providence, RI 02903
(401)444-4000

Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
101 Dudley St
Providence, RI 02905
(401)274-1100

Southern New England Rehabilitation Center
21 Peace St
Providence, RI 02907
(401)456-3000

St Joseph Health Services
21 Peace St
Providence, RI 02907
(401)456-3000

Providence VA Medical Center
830 Chalkstone Ave
Providence, RI 02908
(401)273-7100

Roger Williams Medical Center
825 Chalkstone Ave
Providence, RI 02908
(401)456-2000

New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center
150 York St
Stoughton, MA 02072
(781)344-0600

Our Lady of Fatima Hospital
200 High Service Ave
North Providence, RI 02904
(401)456-3000

Jordan Hospital
275 Sandwich St
Plymouth, MA 02360
(508)746-2000

Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree
2001 Washington St
Braintree, MA 02184
(781)848-2600

Pembroke Hospital
199 Oak St
Pembroke, MA 02359
(781)826-8161

Eleanor Slater Hospital Pastore Center
111 Howard Ave
Cranston, RI 02920
(401)462-3085

South Shore Hospital
55 Fogg Rd
Weymouth, MA 02190
(781)340-8000

Massachusetts Hospital School
3 Randolph St
Canton, MA 02021
(781)828-2440

Kent Hospital
455 Tollgate Rd
Warwick, RI 02886
(401)737-7000

Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital
250 Pond St
Braintree, MA 02184
(781)848-5353

Caritas Norwood Hospital
800 Washington St
Norwood, MA 02062
(781)769-4000

Landmark Medical Center
115 Cass Ave
Woonsocket, RI 02895
(401)769-4100

Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island
116 Eddie Dowling Hwy
North Smithfield, RI 02896
(401)766-0800

Westwood Lodge Hospital
45 Clapboardtree St
Westwood, MA 02090
(781)762-7764

Milton Hospital
92 Highland St
Milton, MA 02186
(617)696-4600

Newport Hospital
11 Friendship St
Newport, RI 02840
(401)846-6400

Quincy Medical Center
114 Whitwell St
Quincy, MA 02169
(617)773-6100

Falmouth Hospital
100 Ter Heun Dr
Falmouth, MA 02540
(508)548-5300

Caritas Carney Hospital
2100 Dorchester Ave
Dorchester, MA 02124
(617)296-4000

VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus
1400 VFW Pkwy
West Roxbury, MA 02132
(617)323-7700

Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape & Islands
311 Service Rd
East Sandwich, MA 02537
(508)833-4000

Massachusetts Mental Health Center
180 Morton St
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617)626-9300

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham
148 Chestnut St
Needham, MA 02492
(781)453-3000

Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged
1200 Centre St
Roslindale, MA 02131
(617)325-8000

Lemuel Shattuck Hospital
170 Morton St
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617)522-8110

Bournewood Hospital
300 South St
Brookline, MA 02467
(617)469-0300

Faulkner Hospital
1153 Centre St
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617)983-7000

Milford Regional Medical Center
14 Prospect St
Milford, MA 01757
(508)473-1190

Arbour Hospital
49 Robinwood Ave
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617)522-4400

Radius Specialty Hospital Boston
59 Townsend St
Roxbury, MA 02119
(617)442-8760

VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus
150 S Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02130
(617)232-9500

Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick
67 Union St
Natick, MA 01760
(508)650-7630

MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital
67 Union St
Natick, MA 01760
(508)650-7000

New England Baptist Hospital
125 Parker Hill Ave
Boston, MA 02120
(617)754-5800

Boston Medical Center
One Boston Medical Center Pl
Roxbury, MA 02118
(617)638-8000

Brigham & Women's Hospital
75 Francis St
Boston, MA 02115
(617)732-5500

Children's Hospital Boston
300 Longwood Ave
Boston, MA 02115
(617)355-6000

Dana Farber Cancer Institute
44 Binney St
Boston, MA 02115
(617)632-3000

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
330 Brookline Ave
Boston, MA 02215
(617)667-7000

Tufts New England Medical Center
750 Washington St
Boston, MA 02111
(617)636-5000

Kindred Hospital Boston
1515 Commonwealth Ave
Brighton, MA 02135
(617)254-1100

Arbour HRI Hospital
227 Babcock St
Brookline, MA 02446
(617)731-3200

Newton Wellesley Hospital
2014 Washington St
Newton, MA 02462
(617)243-6000

Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center
736 Cambridge St
Brighton, MA 02135
(617)789-3000

Franciscan Hospital for Children
30 Warren St
Boston, MA 02135
(617)254-3800

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