Extra Parts

After teaching Anatomy and Physiology for nearly ten years one concept I’ve come to own is that the body is very smart and nothing happens accidentally and no part is without its purpose.  For this reason, it’s always bothered me when body parts are treated as inconsequential and removed without much consideration of the purpose or importance of that part.  A recent study has brought new respect to one of these parts – the tonsils and researchers are not only questioning the trend of tonsillectomy but also the importance of these organs in treating and preventing disease.

Researchers have found evidence showing that T-lymphocytes are found to develop in the human tonsils.  T-lymphocytes are white blood cells whose purpose is largely on fighting off viruses and producing natural killer t-cells and cytotoxic cells that seek out and destroy tumors.  Until now, these extremely important immune cells were thought to develop only in the thymus gland.  This new research is of particular interest to doctors focused on treating and preventing autoimmune diseases as well as cancer.  Researchers at Ohio State University have been running preliminary studies to see if the tonsils can be temporarily removed, then be “supercharged” with T-cells and put back into a patient fighting cancer.  Early testing shows that this therapy may be effective.

The physiology textbooks have reported for years that T-lymphocytes are present in the human

tonsils.  This study is the first evidence that the cells mature or develop anywhere outside of the thymus gland.  Want to know another place where T-lymphocytes are known to be prevalent?  They are also found in the vermiform appendix.  My point to you is to take care of all your parts and do not accept that any part is “extra” or insignificant.  History has proven that every time the experts assume that a body part has no apparent function, Mother Nature and time will reveal that it does.