Humans have long been the focus of scientific exploration, particularly when it comes to our internal anatomy. With 206 bones, a heart, brain, blood, and muscles, it’s easy to assume we’ve fully mapped out the human body after centuries of dissection and study.
That’s why it was so surprising when scientists discovered a new organ just four years ago. The find was completely unexpected, especially since the researchers weren’t even looking for it.
A team in the Netherlands, originally studying prostate cancer, made the discovery. Strangely enough, the new organ was located right beneath the face—an area we’ve always had in plain sight.
The breakthrough occurred at the Netherlands Cancer Institute when scientists conducted CT and PET scans on patients injected with radioactive glucose, designed to highlight tumors. Instead, they found two glowing areas in the patients’ heads. Further investigation revealed these were actually a set of salivary glands, which the researchers named the “tubarial salivary glands.”
Located behind the nose, where the nasal cavity meets the throat, these glands help lubricate and moisten the area. Dr. Wouter Vogel, a radiation oncologist at the institute, explained that the glands were overlooked for so long because they require highly sensitive imaging to detect and are hard to access.
Unlike the three known large salivary glands, none were previously thought to exist in this region. Only small, microscopic glands were known to be scattered in the mucosa. This unexpected discovery could have significant implications, especially for reducing complications in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, as these newly identified glands may be affected during treatment.