Top 10 Most Useless Body Parts
As humans, we have evolved errr… changed over time. Because of the complexity of our bodies, certain organs and parts seem to become less and less needed over time. Whether you’re some big fan of evolution or you’re completely against it, there are parts of the human body that are no longer needed to live or survive. While they may have been necessary to live in the past, in today’s world, there are many different body parts that we just don’t need! Here is a list of the top 10 body parts that are completely useless.
10. Plica semilunaris
Better known as your third eyelid, or maybe not, this organ in our bodies is just one of the many parts that we don’t need. If you pull up on each of your eyelids, the plica semilunaris will be exposed. This part of the eye is known to produce “sleep,” or that weird crust you have in your eyes when you wake up. Thank you plica semilunaris. How could we live without waking up with weird stuff in our eyes?
9. Arrector Pili
The arrector pili are extremely small muscle fibers that are attached to each hair follicle on your body. It is known to make the hairs stand, which causes goose bumps. Most mammals, including his humans have these small muscle fibers; however, they serve no real purpose. They are much more helpful when it comes to animals with much more hair because they provide a layer of insulation.
8. Wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth are those that are located in the back of the mouth. These teeth were once very helpful, especially when humans had a diet that consisted of a lot of tough meat. Wisdom teeth, at this time, allowed humans to properly chew their food. Nowadays, many people don’t even get them. And if they do, they’re surely in for a surprise. Generally wisdom teeth are removed, due to them growing in wrong or causing pain. These chompers can cause a lot of pain either way!
7. Coccyx
The coccyx, more commonly known as the tailbone, is the last part of the human vertebrae. It consists of five separate or fused vertebrae and is the remnant of the vestigial tail. However, the coccyx isn’t completely useless. It does allow many different ligaments, tendons, and muscles to attach. It is also helpful when it comes to weight-bearing. In any case, the coccyx is generally much more important in those mammals with tails.
6. Tonsils
The tonsils are another useless part of the body that can cause certain people a lot of pain. Open your mouth wide and you’ll see a tonsil on each side of your throat, unless you have had them removed. Tonsils are lymphoid tissues that are prone to becoming infected and swelling up. And you know what that means, surgery to get rid of ‘em!
5. Adenoids
Adenoids are masses of lymphoid tissue that are located at the very back of the nose. These tissues are part of the immune system and trap bacteria that can cause viruses. However, they only provide a strong defense against bacteria that is inhaled. As you grow, your adenoids shrink, which makes them useless. They are only helpful when you are a child.
4. Sinuses
Sinuses are one part of the body that doctors really don’t know too much about. We have a lot of them, but they’re nothing but air-filled spaces. Some say that they insulate our eyes while some doctors say that they influence our voice’s tone and pitch. In any case, no one exactly knows what they’re for, but we do know that they cause headaches. Sinuses are also famous for infections.
3. Male nipples
This doesn’t need much of an explanation. Males don’t breastfeed, so nipples really aren’t needed. I guess they serve as decoration.
2. Gall bladder
This is just another part of the body that is sometimes surgically removed. The gall bladder is a small organ that is known to store bile as well as aid in digestion. However, the gall bladder can sometimes produce gall stones and cause people to not be able eat without vomiting. If this is the case, out it goes.
1. Appendix
The appendix is a narrow, muscular tube that attaches to the large intestine. Its purpose is to digest cellulose. The appendix was a more important and necessary organ when the body was introduced to more vegetables. When the human diet consisted of mostly plants, the appendix was extremely important. However, in today’s world, the appendix isn’t a necessary organ. In fact, sometimes the appendix can become infected and burst. About 300,000 Americans have their appendix removed
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I’d like to point out that useless organs #6 and #1 are not infact “useless” they are quite important for our immune systems. When taken out, our bodies ability to fight disease is markedly lower.
#3 still have a use.
With the right stimulation men can lactate, more commonly nowadays with the use of chemical stimulation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_lactation
#10 in regards to sleep.
Sleep is secreted as a physical barrier to stop dust and other particales getting into our eyes while we sleep.
The reason why men have nipples.
Fetuses in the womb are all female until the male hormone testosterone kicks in and turns the female into a male. Nipples have already developed and therefore both females and males have nipples.
This is not correct. Not all fetuses are female. ALL EGGS are. When conception happens, the male donates an X chromosome to fertilize the egg making it a female or a Y chromosome to make the fetus a male. Nipples are simply a vestigial organ in males (non functioning) but they are part of all humans male or female and most other species as well….it is kind of like hair or a belly button…part of our body despite gender.
Plica semilunaris useless? Hardly!! Without them to produce what you refer to as “sleep”, pressure builds up inside your eyes causing pressure on the occular nerve The end result is Glaucoma which, if not controlled, eventually causes blindness. You think an annual checkup for Glaucoma is not necessary? Think again.
wow, most of these parts are acctually extremely useful, goose bumps are a good early warning system, and the coccyx has attachments for the gluteus medius.
I’ll chime in on the usefulness of the appendix. It was recently found to be a safe harbor for the “good” bacteria your digestive tract needs. If a particularly toxic attacker or, more likely, a strong dose of antibiotics turns your intestines into a bacteriological dead zone the survivors can crawl out of the appendix to repopulate the world! Well, your internal world anyway.
haha this is funny.. i like the wisdom tooth
FYI, Even after a successful cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal) you still are prone to vomiting and various other yucky feelings. Your gallbladder helps digest fat and, once removed, can and will remind you continually that it is not there.
Random, I guess that’s highly individual, because I haven’t had a single digestive problem since my gallbladder was removed 15 years ago. I just experienced major, major relief of all pain and suffering I experienced while I had that bugger in my abdomen!
i think nothing in the world is useless.
ya u r right buddy
everything has its own reason why things exist. well i love my wisdom teeth!
and i know a lot of people who removed their organs etc. suffered its consequences..
who knows in the future it may be essential.
Tthe fact that we are filled with pointless parts strongly indicates that there was no creator, and that evolution took place.
YOU’RE A LOSER JEREMY!!
I agree, Jeremy is a loser. Ha.
Wisdom teeth were actually a vital part back in the day not necessarily for chewing but because as teeth fell out the wisdom teeth would push the other teeth together so it would still be possible to eat but since now we keep our teeth for much longer the wisdom teeth push against a full set of teeth causing severe problems and that’s why they are removed
Krugle – That is fascinating, I have never heard that reasoning for wisdom teeth before. Thanks for sharing.
Arrector Pili useless?!? hardly.
As the core temperature of the human body begins to decrease, the arrector pili tighten in order to decrease the surface area of your skin for heat to escape, it’s why your skin becomes all bumpy. Another effect is that the energy needed to contract the muscle release a small amount of hear as waste.
Had my gallbladder removed in 1995 and have regretted it ever since. Most of the time after I eat, within 5-10mins I have the worst diarrhea, which consists of mainly bile. I sometimes get cramps so bad that I break out in a cold sweat and feel like vomiting.
Everything is pointless
Especially your existence? Well you did say ” Everything”.