"Appendix problems (namely appendicitis) are not due to physical trauma to the appendix, but rather blockage of it by fecal material, with subsequent bacterial infection. If you imagine your intestines as a roadway, the appendix is like a small offramp connected to it. When fecal material is going down the road, sometimes it can get lodged in the offramp and block it, making it a nice little pocket for bacteria to grow. "