The interstitium, the shock-absorbing tissue underneath the skin, gut and blood vessels, has been identified as an organ for the first time according to a new study.
Researchers think the layers of the body previously believed to be dense, connective tissues are in fact interconnected compartments filled with fluid. According to the team co-led by NYU School of Medicine, the interstitium is an organ in its own right, and one of the largest in the body. If the research published in the journal Scientific Reports is widely accepted, the interstitium could be regarded as the 80th organ in the human body.
Supported by a mesh of strong and flexible connective tissue proteins, the interstitium protects the organs, muscles and vessels that keep our bodies alive by absorbing bumps and shocks.
The scientists behind the research hope that the discovery will help to determine why cancer that affects this area of the body becomes more likely to metastasize. It could be because the fluid in the interstitium drains into the lymphatic system, which plays a vital role in the immune system. The research also offers new insight into how our body ages, including our skin, the stiffening of limbs, and the progression of fibrotic, sclerotic and inflammatory diseases.
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