Irish scientists have identified a new organ in the human digestive system, taking the count of organs in the human body to 79.
The organ, named mesentery, connects the intestine to the abdomen. Mesentery was previously considered to be a fragmented structure made up of multiple parts.
However, a team of researchers led by J Calvin Coffey, Professor at University of Limerick (Ireland), describe it as an ‘undivided’ and ‘continuous’ structure and outlined the evidence for categorising the mesentery as an organ in the paper published in the journal The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Mesentery is a fold of the peritoneum which attaches the stomach, small intestine, pancreas, spleen, and other organs to the posterior wall of the abdomen.
During the initial research, the researchers found that the mesentery, which connects the gut to the body, was one continuous organ.
Coffey the organ had been previously regarded as “fragmented, present here, absent elsewhere and a very complex structure”.
The anatomic description that had been laid down over 100 years of anatomy was incorrect. This organ is far from fragmented and complex. It is simply one continuous structure.
According to the scientists, better understanding and further scientific study of the mesentery could lead to less invasive surgeries, fewer complications, faster patient recovery and lower overall costs.
When we approach it like every other organ... we can categorise abdominal disease in terms of this organ.
According to Coffey, mesenteric science is a brand new field of medical study.
Up to now there was no such field as mesenteric science. Now we have established anatomy and the structure.
(With inputs from IANS)
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