The anatomical and functional characteristics revealed in a recent study justify today the designation of the mesentery as an organ as such. What should we know about the one that was long thought to be composed only of fragmented structures?
The mesentery corresponds to a partition with two tissue layers lining the peritoneum and allowing in particular the attachment of the jejunum and the ileum (of the small intestine) to the posterior wall of the abdominal cavity. Between its two layers are the nerves and vessels supplying the small intestine. The mesentery, which connects the intestine to the abdomen, was considered for centuries to be a fragmented structure made up of several distinct parts. However, new research by researchers at University Hospital Limerick published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology suggests that the mesentery may actually be a continuous structure. In other words, the mesentery would indeed be an organ and should be considered as such today.
Of course, its reclassification does not modify the physique of this organ in any way, but could be a game-changer in the field of medical sciences by specifying its implication in abdominal diseases: “ Now that we have established the anatomy and structure of the mesentery, the next step will be to clarify its real function. If you understand its function, then you can identify abnormal function, then disease “, explains J. Calvin Coffey, researcher at the University Hospital Limerick, in Ireland. » Better understanding and deeper study of the mesentery could lead to less invasive surgical procedures, fewer postoperative complications, faster patient recovery, and lower overall costs. « .
Thus, and again according to our researcher, mesenteric science will therefore have its own field of medical studies, in the same way as gastroenterology or neurology. Like what, we will always have more to learn and discover, even within our own body.
Source