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.

Comments

Re: "Leonardo da Vinci who identified"

[Dunbal]

Not only that I but distinctly remember studying the mesentery and its functions in medical school when I was there over 20 years ago... although it may not have been specifically granted the name "organ", that's not really how medical students classify things anyway. Organ simply means a collection of tissues performing a specific function or functions. You're far more likely to get a question asking about those functions, or where the blood supply comes from, or what embryological layers went into forming this structure on any test at medical school than "is this an organ?". We've known for a long time that the mesentery has quite a few functions from immune system functions (the thing is FULL of lymph nodes as anyone who has ever had adenitis mesenterica will testify) to being able to move through chemotaxis towards and plug any leaks in the bowel.