Question

A client with appendicitis is scheduled for an appendectomy. The nurse providing preoperative teaching for the client describes the location of the appendix by stating that it is attached to which part of the gastrointestinal (GI) system?

1.Ileum
2.Cecum
3.Rectum
4.Jejunum

Answer 1

The appendix is a small tube attached to the cecum, which is part of the large intestine just after the ileocecal valve. It is thought to have a role in immunity and may house beneficial bacteria. If inflamed, the appendix is usually removed with an appendectomy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appendix, often called the vermiform appendix, is a small tube attached to the cecum, which is a pouch-like section marking the beginning of the large intestine, right after the ileocecal valve where the ileum of the small intestine ends. The appendix is not critical for digestion, but it might have some roles in immunity and maintaining gut flora.

Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix, which is commonly treated by surgical removal, known as an appendectomy. Despite being largely vestigial, the appendix can provide benefits, such as harboring beneficial bacteria, especially after events that disrupt the normal gut flora like diarrhea.