10 Useless Human Body Parts
A list of human body parts that experts believe are useless. Are they really useless? Or perhaps the experts haven’t yet truly discovered their true functions.
A few years back, I was bothered by a stomach pain that required medical attention. I was diagnosed as having an acute appendicitis that needed an urgent operation. Since school classes had just started, my father asked the doctor if they could postpone the operation. But the doctors are too apprehensive, and said, “the healing process will only requires just a week, besides appendix is a useless organ”. Shocked and surprised to hear those statements, I begun questioning my self, “are there really are useless body parts?”
Now, I’ve done some researched and found out that experts believed there are at least 10 body parts that are useless. Before you continue reading the rest of the article, I will leave you a puzzling question: do you agree with the experts findings or you have a dissenting opinion. It is your call. Here is the list:
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Plica Semilunaris
Yes, you have a third eyelid and it is called the plica semilunaris. It is a small fold of bulbar conjunctiva located on the inner corner of the eye. An accessory organ of the eye, plica semilunaris is a left over from what’s known as a “nictitating membrane.” For most mammals, it is a vestigal organ, which is still present in chickens, lizards and sharks. But for humans, plica semilunaris serves an important purpose: it produces a fatty substance (rheum) that collects foreign bodies such as dirt and dust from entering the eye and damaging the cornea. This foreign bodies is then deposited hear the tear duct, ready to be brushed away in the morning.
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Body Hair
Three million years ago, human were once hairier. Earth temperature at that time was much colder than today so our body hair is a good insulation for the colder climate. But by the time Homo erectus arrived, the ability to sweat meant we could shed our woolly ways. Today, having much body hair is annoying that people having this predicament seek the help of dermatologists. Thanks to the now popular hair waxing, excess body hair are remove with ease. So the question arises, “Do we really need body hair?”
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Sinuses
Humans have four pairs of sinuses that are found in the bones of the head and face. These air-filled spaces are lined with a moist, thin layer of tissue called a mucous membrane. The mucous membrane secretes mucus that traps dust and germs that are in the air we breathe. Doctors don’t really know much about sinuses but some researchers think they keep the head from being too heavy. Sinuses also give you the pitch and tone of our voice.
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Adenoids
The adenoids are lumpy mass of lymphoid tissue that help protect kids from getting sick. They situated at the very back of the nose and the roof of the mouth. Most people’s adenoids are not even in use after a person’s third year. In fact, adenoids usually shrink after about age 5, and by the teenage years they often practically disappear. Adenoids do important work as infection fighters for babies and little kids. But they become less important once a kid gets older and the body develops other ways to fight germs. Also, they are prone to swelling and infection.
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Tonsils
Tonsils are clusters of lymphoid tissue on either side of the throat. They act as part of the immune system to help protect against infection. But are they really important. Researches lead us to believe that adenoids are developed to deal with certain types of infections, such as worms or other parasites. It is clear that in many cases, the adenoids become “dysfunctional” and are more of a liability than an asset since they are prone to swelling and infection.
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Coccyx
The coccyx or the tailbone, is the final segment of the human vertebral column. It is made up of three to five separate or fused vertebrae held in place by joints and ligaments. In humans and other tailless primates since Nakalipithecus (a Miocene hominoid), the coccyx is the left over of a vestigial tail, but still not entirely useless. It is part of a weight-bearing support structure which act as a support for a sitting person. Also, it serve as a place for the insertion of some of the muscles of the pelvic floor.
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Arrector Pili
Arrector pili are tiny microscopic muscle tissues that connect hair follicles to the dermis. When stimulated, the arrector pili will contract and cause the hair to stand on end when we needed to appear bigger and scarier, causing goose bumps. They exist in most mammals including humans but in some animals arrector pili serve an important function; acting as insulation to keep their body warm. Other animals, such as porcupines use them as a defensive mechanism when threatened by enemies.
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Wisdom Teeth
Third Molar teeth also known as wisdom teeth are the last teeth to appear in your mouth. This generally occurs between the ages of 17 and 25. Back in the day, when man ate rough diet but didn‘t bother to floss afterwards, there resulted an over excessive wear of their teeth. Therefore, when those “wisdom teeth,” came in, they were welcomed. Nowadays, modern diet, which is much softer, and the popularity of fluoride and orthodontic tooth straightening procedures have just made molar teeth them a huge pain when they enter the mouth.
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Appendix
The appendix is a blind ended tube connected to the cecum that averages 10 cm in length. It is located near the connection of the small intestine and the large intestine. Evolutionists claimed that the appendix is a part of a large digestive system during man’s early plant-eating years and has no function in modern human. However, present day researches and studies suggest that it may produce that are helpful in the function of the human colon.
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Male Nipples
For centuries, men have pondered on why men have nipples and what are its functions. The most logical explanation experts gave is that during conception, an unborn child has the potential to be either male or female. During conception, the embryo has set of 23 pairs of chromosomes. One pair of chromosomes determines sex: XX chromosomes for female and XY means male. The other 22 pairs (autosomes) supply the standard equipment that all humans get. As we all know, nipples are beneficial to women but male nipples– I believe they are useless.
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52 Responses to “10 Useless Human Body Parts”
On May 2, 2009 at 3:45 am
nice write and very informative.
On May 2, 2009 at 3:53 am
Informative and information.
On May 2, 2009 at 3:58 am
it’s an eye opening. i will do my own research too and check if some of the body parts really don’t have use at all
On May 2, 2009 at 5:14 am
I had no idea I was carrying so much useless stuff around. And that body hair photo was downright scary! lol Thanks for a great and very informative read.
)
On May 2, 2009 at 5:29 am
All of those things you posted, you also posted a use for each one. None of them are useless except the very last one.
On May 2, 2009 at 5:44 am
Very interesting.
On May 2, 2009 at 6:20 am
Great, fun article… dugg at
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On May 2, 2009 at 6:41 am
wow,sayang naman pag walang nipple lalaki bro,hahahaha,nice one.thumbs up!d k ma-stumble kaya dito k n lang thumbs up bro….lol
On May 2, 2009 at 6:44 am
That is really interesting. It looks as if they all have uses at particular times and then become redundant. Good work.
Christine
On May 2, 2009 at 7:42 am
Fun stuff. A lot these things can be painful. I’ve fallen on my coccyx and had my wisdom teeth pulled.
On May 2, 2009 at 7:44 am
Great article Papaleng. Good information , some I wasn’t aware of .
On May 2, 2009 at 9:07 am
Now that the most unusual articles you have wrote,but well worth reading.It was interesting and informative,wasnt aware of a few that you mentioned.
On May 2, 2009 at 10:01 am
Informative and excellent article as always.
On May 2, 2009 at 10:03 am
Didactic and informative,great article.
On May 2, 2009 at 10:11 am
Excellent article, I didn’t know that some of these were useless, enjoyable reading.
On May 2, 2009 at 10:26 am
Interesting and informative, thanks.
On May 2, 2009 at 11:39 am
I love this article!
I was just reading this thing that says male nipples aren’t exactly useless- if stimulated to do so, men can lactate. It’s hard but, it has happened. There was even a tribe somewhere where it’s common…
Tonsils and adenoids serve a purpose too–they help doctors make money.
On May 2, 2009 at 11:41 am
Great article
On May 2, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Great anatomy lesson. I enjoyed reading this.
On May 2, 2009 at 7:02 pm
i think male nipples are not that useless. he he he. nice one papi.
On May 2, 2009 at 7:45 pm
interesting, i like it
On May 2, 2009 at 9:11 pm
we`ll find creative uses for those, don`t worry..
On May 2, 2009 at 10:13 pm
I had my tonsils and lower 3rd molars removed. Nice list, papaleng.
On May 2, 2009 at 10:59 pm
I;m a male and my nipples are definitely not useless. A powerful turn on!
On May 3, 2009 at 12:22 am
you caught my attention here papaleng, great list.
On May 3, 2009 at 2:19 am
Joshua and Boomboom are right, male nipples may not serve a lactating function like those of females, but they are most definitely an erogenous zone. And that is a function.
On May 3, 2009 at 3:28 am
I’d have to agree on the last comment,but this was a great piece Papa.
On May 3, 2009 at 9:04 am
Great post… interesting
On May 3, 2009 at 9:54 am
Interesting and informative article. Ill have to agree with the last one & the body hair lol
On May 3, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Great article, very well written piece!
I can agree with some on your list,
since they can be easily removed
(tonsils, appendix, wisdom teeth)
the others I’ll have to learn more about!
On May 3, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Very original piece. Well done. I am a nurse. So, of course, I loved it! But the body hair….could have lived without seeing that.
On May 3, 2009 at 4:58 pm
I’m currently getting my wisdom teeth. Hurts like hell!
On May 3, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Nice article, but I think you just named all of my strong points.
I especially liked the picture of the appendix. I hope you didn’t take all these pics of yourself.
On May 3, 2009 at 8:29 pm
This is an article that makes one think. I’m glad you thought it out for all of us to think about. I enjoyed reading about how useless all of us are.
On May 3, 2009 at 9:29 pm
A good writing on the human anatomy. Thanks for the research. god bless.
Monica.
On May 4, 2009 at 4:13 am
what a cool article x
I believe that the function of the appendix has now been discovered.
Doctors believe that in the event of a severe stomach bug – the body evacuates the good bacteria from the digestive system along with the bad……the appendix (by design)is a hideaway for good bacteria – it remains unaffected and allows good bacteria to spread once the stomach bug is gone.
As you suggest, I believe that all these physiological oddities have or had a purpose – we just havn’t figured them out yet.
Very interesting stuff though x
On May 4, 2009 at 7:55 am
Nice job, had no idea so many things have no use.
On May 4, 2009 at 8:01 am
A very interesting and informative article.
On May 5, 2009 at 3:19 am
Very interesting article…as far as I know the sinus are v important though, as the mucous and tiny hairs that line the nasal passages stop us from breathing in airbourne germs. And presumably they might have something to do with balance as they are connected to the ears as well…
On May 5, 2009 at 12:35 pm
i’ve never thought of these body parts before. now you left us all thinking. hehe. thanks po for all these infos.:)
On May 8, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Interesting but highly opinionated. I’m a second year med student and know important purposes for all these structures. Removing tonsils used to be a routine operation for children that has now stopped because tonsils are an important part of the immune system. Similarly the appendix contains much hemopoietic tissue that produces blood
On May 11, 2009 at 7:11 am
male nipples. maybe they dont serve a useful purpose but you guys just would look strange without them! haha. good article papaleng!
On May 11, 2009 at 1:43 pm
If you know anything about evolution you know that you are about as intelligent as a baby sticking his head in a blender.
It’s called College…. maybe you should check it out.
On May 11, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Foreskin should be up there.
On May 11, 2009 at 2:47 pm
You claim these have no uses, but then list their functions in your descriptions? You are wrong about most of these, go and do some research.
Also, appendicitis can be fatal if left untreated so no the Doctors weren’t too ‘apprehensive’.
On May 11, 2009 at 6:02 pm
comment
On May 12, 2009 at 12:38 am
here is my sitte check it out http://www.Marie-gets-Deflowered.com/?id=63a2591c
On May 12, 2009 at 8:00 am
This a great article but I should agree with Kedyn somehow.
Some of these body parts do have important uses.
“Sinuses keep the head from being too heavy.” Just saying that will already give you an idea that it is really useful, just imagine your head as compact and heavy as a stone(of the same size as the head). Just like pipe instruments, the sinuses will also give us the ability to have resonance and pitch when speaking. It prevents us from speaking monotonously.
Tonsils take part of the immune system.
And just imagine, watching horror movies without even feeling anything. The arrector pili is the one that gives you goosebumps. hehe
There are still many uses of them but I just don’t want to utter many medical jargons.
On May 19, 2009 at 2:00 pm
nice article, papaleng…I am in total agreement with you!
On June 12, 2009 at 12:50 am
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On July 27, 2009 at 6:58 am
Contrary to popular belief, the fact is NONE of these body parts is “vestigial”. The coccyx for example, is not “the left over of a vestigial tail” the coccyx is necessary for humans to evacuate their bowels (you know,pooping). “Evolution” never happened, it’s a scam that’s been popularized and to see people promoting the “vestigial organ” nonsense is ridiculous.
Just because scientists may not know the purpose of something, does not make it “vestigial” or “useless” it just means human knowledge is lacking.
On September 20, 2009 at 6:18 am
Who said Nipples of man is waste???
I use to suck them…
Gay men like it….
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