What new organ did scientists discover in the human body in 2020?

A group of Dutch scientists believe they have discovered a brand new organ in the human body. It’s an impossibly small set of glands, dubbed “tubarial glands,” that sit in the skull where the nose and throat meet.

Researchers were using special technology called called PSMA PET/CT (prostate-specific membrane antigen imaging using positron emission tomography), which is designed to look for tumorous growths. They were looking in the head of 100 individuals being treated for prostate cancer, as well as two dissected cadavers, when they found the new organs. The glands cannot be seen with imaging methods such as ultrasounds, CT scans or MRIs, according to the study authors.

The study authors assume the function of the tubarial glads is to moisten and lubricate the nasopharynx (connected to the soft palate) and oropharynx (connected to the tongue and throat).

The implications of the study could benefit head and neck cancer patients. Radiotherapies used to treat such tumors can damage other salivary glands, which can cause dry mouth and trouble with swallowing, speaking and eating.

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39 Comments

Chris Brown

Too easy. Bones aren't organs, Lily.

Jaimi McEntire

It would be pretty sad if they hadn't discovered the hip bone before 2020.

Ben

An important discovery for medical science. Probably a lot more haven't discovery yet in the human body except those we already know.

Player

No bones about this question.

markkcolemann

Everyone complaining about it being too easy, but it was an interesting question with a very good and informative answer, no-one new of it's existence, so very worth while. 👏👏👏

lrs

garrett scott, there is no such thing as "impossibly small".

lrs

Jack Ramieri, Lily can stay a little longer, but she has to make sense.

billyboy915

Cheryl Love, You might want to rethink that statement. Bones are often thought of as static structures which only offer structural support. However, they truly function as an organ. Like other organs, bones are valuable and have many functions including blood cell production. Blood cells are made in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is the soft, spongy material in the center of the bones. It produces about 95% of the body's blood cells. Most of the adult body's bone marrow is in the pelvic bones, breast bone, and the bones of the spine.