Scientists have discovered a new human organ hiding in plain sight, in a hope to understand the spread of cancer within the body. Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed as “interstitium”. This is the 80th organ of human body. These compartments found beneath the skin, lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a strong, flexible protein network supported with mesh.
Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center medics and colleagues came across the ‘interstitium’ while investigating a patient’s bile duct, searching for signs of cancer. They noticed cavities that did not match any previously known human anatomy, and approached New York University pathologist to ask for his expertise. This new analysis published in the journal Scientific Reports is the first to identify these…
