Given the appendix's propensity to cause death by infection, and the general good health of people who have had their appendix removed or who have a congenitalabsence of an appendix, the appendix is traditionally thought to haveno function in the human body. However, new studies propose that theappendix may harbor and protect bacteria that are beneficial in the function of the human colon.^[3] There have been no reports of impaired immune or gastrointestinal function in people without an appendix.