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https://x.com/sciencegirl/status/2055177402007859602
In 2018, researchers described a widespread system of fluid filled spaces found throughout the body and suggested it could qualify as a newly recognized organ called the interstitium.
The structure is located beneath the skin, surrounding muscles, lining organs such as the lungs and digestive tract, and wrapping around blood vessels and the urinary system. For years, these layers were thought to be made mostly of dense connective tissue.
But when scientists examined living tissue using a laser imaging method known as probe based confocal laser endomicroscopy, they found something unexpected.
Instead of tightly packed solid tissue, they observed interconnected pockets filled with fluid and supported by a flexible network of collagen and connective fibers.
Researchers believe the structure had been missed for so long because of the way tissue samples are traditionally prepared for microscopes. Standard preparation methods involve chemically fixing tissue before examination, a process that drains the fluid and causes the spaces to collapse, making them appear solid.
In living tissue, however, the channels remain open and connected.
Scientists think the interstitium may help move fluid through the body and could influence inflammation, tissue aging, and even the spread of cancer.
Some researchers suspect these fluid pathways may help explain how certain cancers spread so quickly. Once cancer cells enter the network, the channels may allow them to travel into the lymphatic system and reach other parts of the body more easily.
The structure may also play a role in wrinkles and the stiffening of tissue that occurs with age.
Not all scientists agree that the interstitium should officially be classified as its own organ, and debate continues within the scientific community. Even so, the discovery has changed how many researchers think about human anatomy.
Review the study:
“Structure and Distribution of an Unrecognized Interstitium in Human Tissues.” Scientific Reports.
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