Science & Technology

Possible new organs identified in human head

By T.K. Randall
October 21, 2020

Image: Inside My Head
Credit: Andrew Mason / CC BY 2.0 (adapted) Considering how closely the internal workings of the human body have been examined, analyzed and scrutinized over the centuries, it is a wonder that there any surprises left to discover.

Despite this however, it seems that there is a mysterious set of organs inside our heads that, until now at least, had remained totally undiscovered by science.

According to study co-author Dr. Matthijs Valstar, and colleagues, these new glands can be found in the nook where the nasal cavity intersects with the throat.There are three other known major types of salivary glands - one set under the tongue, one near the ears and another below the jaws.

Given the small scale of the study and the potential significance of the find (it would be the first identification of this kind in nearly 300 years), there is still a lot of work to be done to validate it.

Nonetheless, the researchers remain optimistic that what they've found is something special.

"[I] was quite shocked that we are in 2020 and have a new structure identified in the human body," said radiation oncologist Dr. Yvonne Mowery of Duke University.

Source: New York Times

Tags: Organs, Human