>>> YOU ARE WATCHING WCCO NEWS. ALWAYS STREAMING ON CBS NEWS MINNESOTA. >>> STEPHEN COLBERT IS AWAY FROM LATE-NIGHT TV FOLLOWING EMERGENCY SURGERY. HIS APPENDIX BURST. THAT HAD US WONDERING, WHAT DOES IT DO FOR OUR BODY? JEFF WAGNER EXPLAINS THE MYSTERY BEHIND THE ORGAN. >> WE HAVE AN ANATOMY POP QUIZ. >> IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE PART OF THE INTESTINE. >> THE LITTLE PART THAT IS CIRCLED? I HAVE NO CLUE. >> IDENTIFYING THIS ORGAN IS MUCH EASIER THAN KNOWING WHY IT IS THERE. >> DO KNOW WHAT IT DOES? >> NOT REALLY. >> IT'S GOT TO HAVE A FUNCTION. >> FOR MANY YEARS, SURGEONS THOUGHT IT WAS A WAY TO STAY IN BUSINESS. >> Reporter: SHE HAS DECADES OF EXPERIENCE AROUND THIS PART OF THE BODY. >> WHAT IS THIS PART OF THE BODY? >> IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OF THE G.I. TRACT. IT IS A RESERVOIR OF GOOD BACTERIA FOR THE:AND IT RE-POPULATES THE:TO HELP IT MAINTAIN HEALTHY BALANCE. >> IT IS IMPORTANT AFTER CERTAIN ILLNESSES. TO GET THE :BACK IN ORDER. >> FOR YEARS WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THIS THING THAT DANGLED OFF THE COLON. >> HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN SOMEBODY THAT HAD APPENDICITIS? >> YES. >> WHAT LEADS TO APPENDICITIS? >> A BLOCKAGE OF THE OPENING. >> Reporter: THE BLOCKAGE CAN COME FROM A PARASITE OR JUST GENERAL INFLAMMATION. >> I HAVE HEARD OF PEOPLE HAVING TO GET IT REMOVED. >> MANY PEOPLE WITH PERFECTLY NORMAL LIVES HAVE THERE'S OUT. I HAD MINE OUT 60 YEARS OR SO. >> DO YOU REMEMBER THE DAY WHEN THE PAIN ARRIVED? >> OH YES. THERE WAS NAUSEA, VOMITING, PAIN. >> Reporter: APPENDICITIS IS GONE ON TO BE DEFINED AS COMPLICATED OR UNCOMPLICATED. THE SITUATION FOR UNCOMPLICATED ARE MORE PAINFUL AND SEVERE. WHEN THAT HAPPENS SURGERY IS THE ONLY OPTION. >> APPARENTLY ITS FUNCTION, WHILE IMPORTANT, IS SUBTLE ENOUGH THAT OTHER PARTS OF THE -- TAKES OVER. >> IT CAN HURT YOU WHEN IT NEEDS TO GO. >> RECOVERY FROM AN APPENDECTOMY IS PRETTY QUICK. >> Reporter: JEFF WAGNER, WCCO NEWS. >> UNCOMPLICATE
