8 Unnecessary Organs That Can Be Removed Without Harming Human Life

Some body parts can be "cut off" due to illness or other reasons, but it won't affect the activities and longevity too much, is that true?

0
64

8 Human Organs You Can Live Without

Studies have shown that there are 36 organs in the human body that maintain life activities, including the following eight organs that can be “removed” without endangering life:

1. One Kidney

The human body normally has two kidneys, and these two complement each other. Therefore, in special cases, after losing one kidney, the remaining healthy kidney will continue to perform the function of filtration and will not have a major impact on daily life.

Removing one kidney will not have a major impact on daily life. (Illustrative image)

2. One Lung

Like the kidneys, the normal human body relies on both the left and right lungs for breathing. If the left and right lungs are completely removed, the patient will lose their respiratory function. For a simultaneous heart-lung transplant, part of the lungs can be removed, and it can also be transplanted.

3. Reproductive Organs

Severe damage to the uterus, ovaries, or breasts in women or the testicles in men may pose the risk of having to be removed. After these organs are removed, the patient can still live a normal life, but they will not be able to fulfill their reproductive needs.

4. Appendix

Located in the lower right abdomen of the human body, it is a small tail-like protrusion from the cecum, the thickest part of the intestine. Appendicitis is a relatively common condition and is treated by “letting it pass,” which will not have much impact on daily life after the patient recovers.

However, some studies have found that the appendix is not a useless organ, and it can ensure the safety of “good bacteria” in the human body.

Removing the appendix will not affect daily life much after recovery. (Illustrative image)

5. Gallbladder

The gallbladder is an organ that stores bile, which the body can use to break down food if it eats too much oil. After the gallbladder is removed, the digestive function of some people may be affected, but if a regular diet is established, it will not affect daily life much.

6. Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the third molars in the back of the human mouth and appear relatively late, mostly between the ages of 16 and 26. From a medical point of view, wisdom teeth do more harm than good, and if there is tooth decay, tooth impaction, periodontitis, or wisdom teeth that do not fit together, they should be extracted.

7. Spleen

The spleen mainly filters the blood, but when the spleen is ruptured beyond repair, it must be removed. Although the removal can affect the immune system as well as the blood-forming system, in general, patients can live the same life they did before the surgery after the spleen is removed.

8. Stomach

The stomach is a very important organ, but for some people who are obese or have severe gastric cancer, doctors may have to remove part or all of their stomach. After the removal, the esophagus is directly connected to the small intestine to replace the stomach, and the patient can still eat a small amount of solid food.

Note: Although the body can still function daily after the removal of these organs, it can only be “removed” under the guidance of a doctor, unless there are health problems and the removal of these organs is the only way to “treat” them.

Frequently asked questions

The human body typically has two kidneys that work together to filter blood and remove waste. However, in certain cases, such as kidney donation or disease, a person may live a healthy life with just one functioning kidney. This single kidney will continue the vital filtration process without significantly impacting daily life.

Similar to kidneys, we usually rely on both lungs for breathing. However, in extreme cases, a person can survive with just one lung. This could be due to a lung transplant, where part of the lung is removed, or as a result of a medical condition. While it is possible to live with one lung, it’s important to note that respiratory function will be impacted.

The removal of reproductive organs, such as the uterus, ovaries, or testicles, is often done as a last resort to treat severe damage or disease. While a person can still live a relatively normal life, they will no longer be able to reproduce naturally.

Located in the lower right abdomen, the appendix is a small, finger-like structure connected to the cecum. While appendicitis is a common condition, the removal of the appendix typically doesn’t impact daily life after recovery. However, some studies suggest that the appendix may play a role in maintaining the balance of “good bacteria” in the body.

The gallbladder stores bile, which aids in digesting fatty foods. While most people can live a normal life without a gallbladder, some may experience digestive issues. However, these can often be managed by maintaining a healthy, balanced diet.

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, usually appear later in life and can cause dental issues. From a medical perspective, they often do more harm than good. Wisdom teeth may need to be extracted due to decay, impaction, or periodontal disease, or if they don’t align properly with the rest of the teeth.

The spleen’s main role is to filter blood. In cases of severe, irreparable damage, the spleen may need to be removed. While this can impact the immune and blood-forming systems, most patients can lead a normal life after spleen removal.

In certain extreme cases, such as severe obesity or gastric cancer, doctors may remove part or all of the stomach. After this procedure, the esophagus is connected directly to the small intestine, allowing the person to still consume small amounts of solid food.