histology of the appendix
Last reviewed 01/2018
The structure of the appendix is effectively that of the large intestine - serous, muscular, submucous and mucous. The appendix has large collections of lymphoid tissue in the lamina propria that bulge into the appendix lumen. These collections are particularly marked in childhood and reduce with age.
The mucosa of the appendix is lined by columnar epithelium and contains a large number of gastrointestinal endocrine - argentaffin - cells as well as goblet cells. The appendix is a common site of carcinoid tumours that arise from argentaffin cells.