The human body is incredibly resilient. When you donate a pint of blood, you lose about 3.5 trillion red blood cells, but your body quickly replaces them. You can even lose large chunks of vital organs and live. Here are some of the non-vital organs you can lose and live with.
Spleen
This organ is located on the left side of the abdomen, near the back under the ribs, and is most commonly removed as a result of injury.
- It is enclosed by a tissue paper-like capsule, which easily tears, allowing blood to leak from the damaged spleen. If not diagnosed and treated, it will result in death.
Stomach
The stomach performs four main functions: mechanical digestion, chemical digestion, absorption and secretion, and absorption and absorption/retention
- It is sometimes surgically removed as a result of cancer or trauma.
- When the stomach is removed, surgeons attach the oesophagus (gullet) directly to the small intestines.
Appendix
A small blind-ended worm-like structure at the junction of the large and small bowel.
- Initially thought to be vestigial, it is now believed to be involved in being a “safe-house” for the good bacteria of the bowel, enabling them to repopulate when needed.
Reproductive organs
The primary reproductive organs in the male and female are the testes and ovaries, respectively. The removal of one or both is usually the result of cancer, or trauma, often as a result of violence, sports or road traffic accidents.
- In females, the uterus (womb) may also be removed.
Kidneys
Most people have two kidneys, but you can survive with just one or none (with the aid of dialysis).
- The role of the kidneys is to filter the blood to maintain water and electrolyte balance, as well as the acid-base balance.
- If one or both kidneys fail, they are placed onto dialysis.
Colon
The colon is a tube that is about six feet long and has four named parts: ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid. The primary functions of the colon are to resorb water and prepare ****** by compacting it into a compacted ball.
Gallbladder
The gallbladder sits under the liver on the upper-right side of the abdomen, just under the ribs. It stores something called bile.
- Gallstones: excess cholesterol in bile can form gallstones, which can block the tiny pipes that move bile around.
- Surgery is known as (cholecystectomy).
