Scientists Discover New Organ in Human Throat

Scientists from the Netherlands discovered a new organ located in the upper part of the human throat. The newly identified organ was named the tubarial salivary glands because it was found on top of a piece of cartilage called the torus tubarius. It is almost 3.8 centimeters long, and the scientists believe it may exist to moisten and lubricate the upper throat. The scientists accidentally discovered the new glands while examining one patient in an experiment. According to them, the technology they used in their study could detect cancerous cells and salivary glands. Until now, scientists were only aware of three major salivary glands in the human body. These glands are found under the tongue, near the ears, and below the jaw. In addition to them, various smaller salivary glands are scattered throughout the mouth and throat tissues. To confirm if the newly discovered tubarial glands are indeed present in everyone, the scientists examined 100 patients and dissected two cadavers. They found that all of the patients and cadavers had the glands. Based on their findings, the scientists strongly believe that the tubarial glands are a new organ. However, several doctors disagree, saying that the new discovery could just be smaller salivary glands that were previously undetected. According to one expert, the study’s data is unreliable because of its low participant count. Despite other experts’ doubts, one doctor said that the discovery could have clinical implications and might help doctors understand why some head and neck chemotherapy patients suffer from swallowing problems and chronic dry mouth.