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Appendectomy Center - Thousand Oaks, CA

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Thousand Oaks, California

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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 Thousand Oaks

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Thousand Oaks Hospitals *

Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center
215 W Janss Rd
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
(805)497-2727

St John's Pleasant Valley Hospital
2309 Antonio Ave
Camarillo, CA 93010
(805)389-5800

Simi Valley Hospital
2975 N Sycamore Dr
Simi Valley, CA 93065
(805)955-6000

Motion Picture & Television Hospital
23388 Mulholland Dr
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
(818)876-1888

West Hills Hospital & Medical Center
7300 Medical Center Dr
West Hills, CA 91307
(818)676-4000

St John's Regional Medical Center
1600 N Rose Ave
Oxnard, CA 93030
(805)988-2500

Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center
5601 DeSoto Ave
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
(818)719-2000

Northridge Hospital Medical Center
18300 Roscoe Blvd
Northridge, CA 91328
(818)885-8500

Tarzana Regional Medical Center
18321 Clark St
Tarzana, CA 91356
(818)881-0800

Ventura County Medical Center
3291 Loma Vista Rd
Ventura, CA 93003
(805)652-6000

Community Memorial Hospital
147 N Brent St
Ventura, CA 93003
(805)652-5011

Encino Hospital Medical Center
16237 Ventura Blvd
Encino, CA 91436
(818)995-5000

Aurora Vista Del Mar Hospital
801 Seneca St
Ventura, CA 93001
(805)653-6434

Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital
23845 McBean Pkwy
Valencia, CA 91355
(661)253-8000

Valley Presbyterian Hospital
15107 Vanowen St
Van Nuys, CA 91405
(818)782-6600

Mission Community Hospital
14850 Roscoe Blvd
Panorama City, CA 91402
(818)787-2222

Hollywood Community Hospital of Van Nuys
14433 Emilita St
Van Nuys, CA 91401
(818)787-1511

Sherman Oaks Hospital
4929 Van Nuys Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
(818)981-7111

Providence Holy Cross Medical Center
15031 Rinaldi St
Mission Hills, CA 91345
(818)365-8051

Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center
1250 16th St
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310)319-4000

Saint John's Health Center
1328 22nd St
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310)829-5511

Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center
13652 Cantara St
Panorama City, CA 91402
(818)375-2000

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
757 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310)825-9111

UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital
757 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310)825-8611

Olive View UCLA Medical Center
14445 Olive View Dr
Sylmar, CA 91342
(818)364-1555

Ojai Valley Community Hospital
1306 Maricopa Hwy
Ojai, CA 93023
(805)646-1401

Pacifica Hospital of the Valley
9449 San Fernando Rd
Sun Valley, CA 91352
(818)767-3310

Marina Del Rey Hospital
4650 Lincoln Blvd
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
(310)823-8911

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
8700 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310)423-3277

Brotman Medical Center
3828 Delmas Ter
Culver City, CA 90232
(310)836-7000

Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center
6041 Cadillac Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(323)857-2000

Miracle Mile Medical Center
6000 San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323)930-1040

Olympia Medical Center
5900 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(310)657-5900

Kindred Hospital Los Angeles
5525 W Slauson Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90056
(310)642-0325

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center
501 S Buena Vista St
Burbank, CA 91505
(818)843-5111

VA Greater Los Angeles HealthCare System
11301 Wilshire Blvd
West Los Angeles, CA 90073
(310)478-3711

Hollywood Community Hospital
6245 De Longpre Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323)462-2271

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center
4867 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323)783-4011

Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
4650 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323)660-2450

Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center
1300 N Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(213)413-3000

Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center
2231 S Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90018
(323)730-7300

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