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Scientists Identify New Organ In Humans (livescience.com)
Scientists have classified a new organ called the mesentery, which connects a person's small and large intestines to the abdominal wall and anchors them in place, according to the Mayo Clinic. Until recently, it was thought of a number of distinct membranes by most scientists. It was none other than Leonardo da Vinci who identified the membranes as a single structure, according to a recent review. Live Science reports: In the review, lead author Dr. Calvin Coffey, a professor of surgery at the University of Limerick's Graduate Entry Medical School in Ireland, and colleagues looked at past studies and literature on the mesentery. Coffey noted that throughout the 20th century, anatomy books have described the mesentery as a series of fragmented membranes; in other words, different mesenteries were associated with different parts of the intestines. More recent studies looking at the mesentery in patients undergoing colorectal surgery and in cadavers led Coffey's team to conclude that the membrane is its own, continuous organ, according to the review, which was published in November in the journal The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The reclassification of the mesentery as an organ "is relevant universally as it affects all of us," Coffey said in a statement. By recognizing the anatomy and the structure of the mesentery, scientists can now focus on learning more about how the organ functions, Coffey said. In addition, they can also learn about diseases associated with the mesentery, he added.
Time for new textbooks that will be $250 each!
"Yeah, it's kind of like referring to the skin as an organ. It's technically correct (the very best kind of correct!), but you're not really in possession of any significant new knowledge."
Actually, maybe not significant new knowledge, but new understanding...
I remember the whole "Is the Skin an Organ?" debate in Freshman Physiology many decades back. Back then, the word "Organ" had a different generally accepted meaning, that of a unique part of the body that had at least one defined and continuing functional organic characteristic. Bone Marrow were Organs, Bones were not. Tonsils were Organs, Uvula were not. Skin... well it was protective, but as long as that was all that it was, it was just like Bones, and Cartilage, and Earlobes. But skin also Sweat, which aided in temperature regulation, elimination of waste, and maintaining Electrolyte balances. So Skin is an Organ. But it is actually the Sweat Glands in Skin that perspire; Skin just carries them around. So Skin is not an Organ.
The problem with the Mesentery is that it just holds bits of gut in place, on first glance. It produces no Hormones or Enzymes, or Blood cells. It does not ward off disease. It does not engage in the Metabolism of the Gut. It does not have Sexual characteristics... or if it does, we prefer not to think about it. But it's a bit more complicated than that. It contains other defined tissue that _does_ do some of these things. Lymphatic tissue for instance. Unlike the Liver, if the Mesentery is removed, the patient doesn't die. They may be uncomfortable, but that's it. Be careful bending over. But the same may be said for Tonsils, which most definitely are Organs.
So the problem isn't whether the Mesentery is an Organ or not, it's that we've gotten very confused about what an Organ actually is. Oh, easy for Leonardo...
If everything, including some Bones which in themselves are essentially Dead, but because they contain Marrow, are classified as Organs, then the word has lost any real meaning.
So maybe it's time that we just got rid of the damn word completely. We do quite well without Melancholies and Humours, Homunculi, and Phlogiston, and Mal-Aire, old once well-accepted Medical terms. There will be those who object; look at how that whole light-hearted affair about Pluto turned out. We may be accused of Dis-Organized Crime...