appendixes

Appendix (plural appendices or appendixes) is supplementary material added to the end of a document to provide additional information that complements, but is not essential to, the main text. The plural forms appendices and appendixes are both used, with appendices more common in formal writing, while appendixes is also accepted.

Contents of an appendix may include data tables, calculations, methodological details, technical drawings, survey instruments, glossaries, maps, sample questionnaires, or supplementary figures. They help readers verify results, reproduce methods, or explore tangential topics without interrupting the narrative. Each appendix is usually labeled Appendix A, Appendix B, etc., or given a descriptive title; in the main text, readers are directed to the relevant appendix.

In electronic documents, appendices may be provided as separate files or linked sections. In books and articles, appendices are part of the publication and are bound with the main text or presented at the end; online formats may present them as distinct sections or downloadable materials.

Anatomy: The vermiform appendix is a narrow tubular structure attached to the cecum, in the lower right abdomen. It is present in humans and many other mammals. Its exact function is not fully understood, but it contains lymphoid tissue and is thought to play a role in immune function and possibly the maintenance of gut flora. Clinically, appendicitis is a common acute condition requiring prompt treatment, typically an appendectomy.