Question

In human beings, vestigial organs are
A. Wisdom tooth, coccyx, nail, eyelid and vermiform appendix.
B. Wisdom tooth, coccyx, vermiform appendix, pancreas and elbow joint.
C. Wisdom tooth, coccyx, vermiform appendix, nictitating membrane and auricular muscles.
D. Wisdom tooth, coccyx, nail, auricular muscles.

Answer 1

Vestigial organs are the organs which are getting morphologically present as remnant and perform little or no functions in the body. These are the organs that were functional earlier but with the evolutionary changes, they become nonfunctional and act as vestigial organs.

Complete Answer:
Vestigial organs are considered as an evidence of evolution. It is found in plants and animals which have changed their lifestyles from their ancestors. Some of the common example includes:
- Hind limbs of the snakes( boas and python).
- Wings of ostrich, emu and other flightless birds.
- Eyes of cavefish and salamanders.
- Nictitating membrane, wisdom tooth, coccyx, vermiform appendix and auricular muscles in humans.

The correct option is C i.e. Wisdom tooth, coccyx, vermiform appendix, nictitating membrane and auricular muscles.

Additional information:
- Auricular muscles present in the ear that are responsible for the movement of ears voluntarily are vestigial in humans.
- Vermiform appendix is a vestige of a redundant organ that has digestive functions in our ancestors.
- Wisdom tooth is a third molar (that is currently vestigial) having the function of grinding down plant tissue in our ancestors.
- Similarly coccyx (tail bone) which was previously present in our ancestors for balancing, gripping the tree during their movement from one tree to another is found vestigial in humans.
- Since the snake changes their style for body movement. Thus the hind limb becomes nonfunctional in snakes although a small vestigial part is a remnant found in them.

Note: Charles Darwin who is known as the Father of Evolution listed a number of vestigial features which was termed as rudimentary in his book The Descent of Man in which he described the evolutionary changes taking place in the human and how the vestigial organs formed in humans.