The 80th organ in the human body is the interstitium.
What is the Interstitium?
The interstitium is a network of fluid-filled spaces, previously overlooked by scientists due to the way tissue samples were prepared for microscopic examination. It's found throughout the body, connecting various tissues and organs. Its discovery was a significant advancement in our understanding of human anatomy. The interstitium's interconnected nature is believed to play a crucial role in the spread of cancer and other diseases. NYU Langone and Docplexus both highlight its potential importance in understanding disease progression. The fluid-filled spaces were compressed during traditional tissue preparation methods, leading to its previous invisibility. The discovery was published around March 28th, 2018 and was widely reported. NDTV mentions it might be the largest organ because of its widespread presence throughout the body.
Why the Number 80?
While the exact number of organs in the human body is debatable, depending on the classification criteria used, the interstitium was considered the 80th organ when it was discovered. This is based on the common understanding of the number of previously identified organs. Wikipedia notes the ambiguity surrounding the precise number of organs.
