<p>You might know them as "vestigial" organs, but we no longer overlook organs that aren’t vital for life.</p><p>While they can be removed, your tonsils, appendix and gallbladder play important roles in the body.</p><p>Norman and Tegan define what "vestigial" actually means, and how our bodies adapt to losing an organ.</p><p>References:</p><ul><li><a href="https://daily.jstor.org/how-do-we-know-what-human-organs-do/" target="_blank">How Do We Know What Human Organs Do? - JSTOR Daily</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2019-09-06/tonsils-tonsillectomy-and-throat-health/11475046">Tonsils, adenoids and throat infections — do doctors still recommend surgery? - ABC News</a></li><li><a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2683621" target="_blank">Association of Long-Term Risk of Respiratory, Allergic, and Infectious Diseases With Removal of Adenoids and Tonsils in Childhood</a> </li><li><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/19160216261416896" target="_blank">Influence of Tonsillectomy on Various Disease Outcomes: An Outcome-wide Association Analysis and Mendelian Randomization Analysis</a></li><li><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7400737/" target="_blank">Cytokine production in patients with recurrent acute tonsillitis: analysis of tonsil samples and blood - PMC</a> </li><li><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6145787/" target="_blank">Association of Long-Term Risk of Respiratory, Allergic, and Infectious Diseases With Removal of Adenoids and Tonsils in Childhood - PMC</a> </li><li><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3551545/" target="_blank">Microbial Composition of Human Appendices from Patients following Appendectomy</a> </li><li><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00384-021-03886-x" target="_blank">Long-term impacts of appendectomy associated with increased incidence of inflammatory bowel disease, infection, and colorectal cancer</a></li><li><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/21614-gallbladder-removal">Cholecystectomy (Gallbladder Removal)</a></li></ul><p>If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/whats-that-rash/why-do-we-have-wisdom-teeth/103455212" target="_blank">Why do we have wisdom teeth?</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/whats-that-rash/peptides-muscle-recovery-anti-ageing/106381292">Can peptides keep you young and buff?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/whats-that-rash/sick-cold-flu-exercise/105644748">Is it OK to exercise when you're sick?</a></li></ul>