The Interstitium Is Important, But Don't Call It An Organ (Yet)

D-brief
By Nathaniel Scharping
Mar 28, 2018 8:45 PMDec 27, 2019 8:24 PM
organs
Some organs, maybe. (Credit: Komsan Loonprom/Shutterstock)

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Humans might have a new organ, and the press is all over it—again.

In brief: It’s called the interstitium, or a layer of fluid-filled pockets hemmed in by collagen and it can be found all over our bodies, from skin to muscles to our digestive system. The interstitium likely acts as a kind of shock absorber for the rest of our interior bits and bobs and the workings of the fluid itself could help explain everything from tumor growth to how cells move within our bodies. The authors stop short of saying “new organ,” but the word is certainly on everyone’s lips.

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