Are “Useless” Organs Proof of Evolution or Intelligent Design? The Hidden Purpose of the Tonsils

Tali asks: "Hello, I wanted to ask about organs in the human body that seem unnecessary (often called ‘vestigial organs’). For example, the tonsils swell up when we’re sick and make swallowing difficult. What’s their purpose? There’s also the appendix, which can get dangerously inflamed and must be removed quickly. What’s the use of it? I believe that God created everything with wisdom, and nothing exists for no reason, so I’d love to understand what appears, at first glance, to be unnecessary in the body."

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Hello, Tali — and thank you for your excellent question.

In mentioning these organs, you’ve actually touched upon one of the strongest arguments for intelligent design.

In the past, under the influence of theories claiming that nature is driven purely by chance, scientists rushed to label certain human organs as “vestigial” — useless remnants of evolutionary history. They claimed that organs like the tonsils and appendix served no purpose and were just leftover parts from earlier stages of evolution.

This mistaken belief led doctors to routinely remove children’s tonsils without any medical necessity. As science progressed, researchers were astonished to discover intricate design even in the smallest details of the human body — fulfilling the verse: “How manifold are Your works, O Lord; You made them all with wisdom.” (Tehillim 104:24)

Again and again, every claim of “randomness” has been overturned by deeper understanding.

The Parable of the Watch

Imagine an African tribesman who finds a watch for the first time in his life. He studies it curiously, noticing the hands moving across the face, the gears turning precisely, and the battery that powers it — without which the whole thing stops working.

Although he’s never seen a watch factory or metal gears, he rightly concludes that such a device must have been designed intentionally, and not formed by accident.

Now imagine he finds one small gear inside the watch and doesn’t understand its function. If he were to claim, “This part is useless — therefore the watch must have formed by chance,” we would laugh at his ignorance.

He doesn’t understand the mechanism, yet he presumes to judge the designer. Likewise, when we don’t yet understand an organ’s purpose, that doesn’t mean it’s useless — only that our knowledge is limited.

The Amazing Design of the Human Body

At this very moment, millions of systems are working together inside your body with unimaginable sophistication.

• A single cell is more complex than the entire transportation network of New York City.

• Each human eye contains over 120 million light receptors, producing a high-definition, full-color image of the world.

• The human brain, with over 100 billion neurons — more than the stars in our galaxy, functions with perfect synchronization.

Considering this breathtaking design, is it reasonable to assume that anything inside this system is truly unnecessary?

Science has proven that supposed “vestigial organs” actually have critical functions — we simply didn’t understand them yet.

The Tonsils: Nature’s First Line of Defense

The tonsils are two pinkish glands about the size of grapes located on either side of the throat. Their Hebrew name, shkedim (“almonds”), comes from their shape.

For decades, doctors believed they were useless remnants and routinely removed them, even from healthy children. Later research showed that tonsils are actually part of the lymphatic system, which plays a key role in the immune response.

Their function is to trap and destroy harmful bacteria and viruses, while also producing antibodies that protect the body from future infections.

Today, it’s universally acknowledged that the tonsils serve as the body’s first line of defense against infections entering through the mouth and throat. “Fewer tonsillectomies are performed today than in the past because it is now known that the tonsils remove many of the pathogens that enter the pharynx; therefore, they are a first line of defense against invasion of the body.” — Inquiry into Life, 10th Edition, Mader, McGraw Hill (2003), p. 293

Tonsils are especially important in young children:

• In fetuses, they help produce antibodies.

• In children, they act as guard posts, catching bacteria before they spread deeper into the body.

By adulthood, the immune system has matured, and tonsil infections become less common. Surgery is now performed only in severe cases, such as when enlarged tonsils block the airway and cause sleep apnea.

Interestingly, research has revealed an even deeper role for tonsils: “Many studies have linked tonsillectomy with an increased risk of obesity. One study found that tonsil removal raised the risk of obesity by 61% in children, and by 136% when combined with adenoid removal.” — Reuters Health, “Tonsillectomy linked to excess weight gain in kids,” Pediatrics, April 2009

This suggests that tonsils may influence metabolic or hormonal regulation, revealing that their purpose extends far beyond what we once thought.

What was once dismissed as “useless” has turned out to be essential and brilliantly designed. Our ignorance of an organ’s function does not mean it lacks purpose, but that we have more to learn about the wisdom built into creation.

In the next article, we’ll explore the remarkable purpose of another once-misunderstood organ — the appendix.