Interstitium: a new human organ

Scientists said in a study published Tuesday that they may have stumbled on a previously unknown organ — one of the biggest in the human body and one that could significantly advance our understanding of cancer and many other diseases. The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, suggests that a network of dense connective tissues and fluid-filled compartments called the interstitium is a full-fledged organ — that is, a group of tissues with a unique structure performing a specialized task, like the heart or the liver.

An illustration accompanying the journal paper traces all the places the interstitium nestles into inside the human body. Source: Jill Gregory / Mount Sinai Health Systems, via CC