Appendicitis Center - Mission Viejo, CA
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AppendicitisRead the Appendicitis article » What is the appendix?The appendix is a closed-ended, narrow tube up to several inches in length 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 open center of 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, but the layer of muscle is poorly developed.
What is appendicitis and what causes appendicitis?Appendicitis means 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 might swell and block the appendix. After the blockage occurs, bacteria which normally are found within the appendix 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 of the appendix. The cause of such a rupture is unclear, but it may relate to changes that occur in the lymphatic tissue, for example, inflammation, that lines 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 ... Recommended Reading Related to AppendicitisIntroduction to night sweatsDoctors in primary care fields of medicine often hear their patients complain of night sweats as they are common. Night sweats refer to any excess sweating occurring during the night. However, if your bedroom is unusually hot or you are using too many bedclothes, you may begin to sweat during sleep - and this is normal. In order to distinguish night sweats that arise from medical causes from those that occur because one's surroundings are too warm, doctors generally refer to true night sweats as severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to an overheated environment. In one study of 2267 patients visiting a primary care physician, 41% reported experiencing night sweats during the previous month, so the perception of excessive sweating at night is fairly common. It is important to note that flushing (a warmth and redness of the face or trunk) may also be hard t... Other Related Appendicitis ArticlesEmergency Contact for Mission Viejo
Nearby Mission Viejo Hospitals * Saddleback Memorial Medical Center Laguna Hills  Children's Hospital of Orange County at Mission  Mission Hospital  Kaiser Permanente Orange County Irvine Medical Center  Mission Hospital Laguna Beach  Saddleback Memorial Medical Center San Clemente  Tustin Hospital & Medical Center  HEALTHSOUTH Tustin Rehabilitation Hospital  Western Medical Center Santa Ana  Coastal Communities Hospital  College Hospital Costa Mesa  Chapman Medical Center  HealthBridge Children's Rehabilitation Hospital  Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian  Children's Hospital Orange County  St Joseph Hospital  Kindred Hospital Santa Ana  Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center  University Of California Irvine Medical Center  Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center  Garden Grove Hospital & Medical Center  Corona Regional Medical Center Rehabilitation  Kaiser Permanente Anaheim Medical Center  Corona Regional Medical Center  Huntington Beach Hospital  Western Medical Center Anaheim  Kindred Hospital Westminster  Placentia-Linda Hospital  Anaheim Regional Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center  West Anaheim Medical Center  Anaheim General Hospital  St Jude Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Brea  Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center  Inland Valley Medical Center  Los Alamitos Medical Center  La Palma Intercommunity Hospital  Tri-City Regional Medical Center  VA Long Beach Healthcare System  Chino Valley Medical Center  Kindred Hospital La Mirada  Rancho Springs Medical Center  Community Hospital of Long Beach  Vista Hospital of Riverside  Whittier Hospital Medical Center  Fallbrook Hospital  Menifee Valley Medical Center  Norwalk Community Hospital  Riverside Community Hospital  College Hospital Cerritos  Metropolitan State Hospital  Kindred Hospital Ontario  St Mary Medical Center  Bellflower Medical Center  Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital  Montclair Hospital Medical Center  Lakewood Regional Medical Center  Long Beach Memorial Medical Center  Miller Children's Hospital  Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center  Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital  Pacific Hospital of Long Beach  Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center  Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation  Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles Suburban Medical Center Campus  San Antonio Community Hospital  Downey Regional Medical Center  Moreno Valley Community Hospital  Rancho Specialty Hospital  Citrus Valley Medical Center Queen of the Valley Campus  Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center  Riverside County Regional Medical Center  San Dimas Community Hospital  Doctor's Hospital West Covina Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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