In January 2017, the discovery of a potential 79th human organ had already made a lot of noise in the scientific community. From now on it is the interstitium, identified as the possible 80th organ of our body, which seems to be at the heart of all the interrogations ...
An invisible organ, found by chance
Even in science, chance sometimes makes things right. While doctors were experimenting with a new laser endoscope to see through the tissues, they observed an interstitial layer whose compartments are interconnected, filled with fluid and supported by a network of collagen and elastin. This complex material surrounds several organs such as the lungs, veins, or muscles.
Before this discovery, the existence of this layer was already proved, however it was believed that it had no particular function. But by studying the thing more closely, the researchers found that the interstitium is in fact a kind of shock absorber for organs in constant movement (pressure, pulsation ...), so that their tissues do not tear. A role that made her the potential 80th human body, and probably the 2nd largest organ after the skin.
Interstitial Modeling / Credits: SKE Science Photo Library
A recognition that remains to be confirmed
Problem: this layer could not have a harmful action on the human body.
Indeed, it is an open space, under mechanical pressure, and filled with moving fluids, which probably makes this organ an important player in the proliferation of metastases in the body and therefore the spread of cancer. A hypothesis that has yet to be proven.
"This discovery could lead to dramatic advances in medicine, such as the ability to directly sample interstitial fluid and make it a powerful diagnostic tool," says Dr. Theise, physician in charge of the study, in an article published by The Independent newspaper. *
In any case, the interstitium can only be officially qualified as a "body" after further evaluation by a consensus of scientists. But there is an undeniable proof that the human body still holds many mysteries ...
Credits: Jill Gregory / Mount Sinai Health System
Read the full study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-23062-6
* https: //www.independent.co.uk/news/health/new-organ-human-body-interstitium-cancer-skin-scientists-discovery-new-york-a8275851.html
