is science’s latest discovery — the interstitium — really a new organ or is it something the fascia research community has known about all along?

IS THE INTERSTITIUM REALLY A NEW……ORGAN?

“We propose a revision of the anatomical concepts of the submucosa, dermis, fascia, and vascular adventitia, suggesting that, rather than being densely-packed barrier-like walls of collagen, they are fluid-filled interstitial spaces.

In sum, we describe the anatomy and histology of a previously unrecognized, though widespread, macroscopic, fluid-filled space within and between tissues, a novel expansion and specification of the concept of the human interstitium.” The research team of physicians and scientists from New York University’s Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center (quoted from Seth Augenstein’s article, Discovery of Interstitium Fluid: Does it Upend Human Biology?)

It’s been awhile since I’ve seen medical research (or PRESS RELEASE as is often the case) that’s not touting some new drug, garner as much hype in the mainstream media as Tuesday’s study, Structure and Distribution of an Unrecognized Interstitium in Human Tissues.  In order to understand what this study actually says, the first thing we must do is to understand what the interstitial space and interstitial fluid are.

As you might suspect, the fluid contained in the interstitial space is the interstitial fluid.  But what’s the interstitial space?  the word itself means “empty” or “fragmented,” so basically it’s the ’empty’ space that lies outside the cells, between the capillary walls and CELL MEMBRANE. 

Bear in mind that about 2/3 of the body’s fluid is found inside the cells (intracellular fluid), while the remaining third is found outside the cells (extracellular fluid).  Most of the extracellular fluid is “interstitial,” while the remaining extracellular fluid is found as blood plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, the gel in your eyeballs, etc, etc.  Why do you need to know about interstitial fluid (IF) to understand today’s study?  Follow along.

Despite the fact that I could have come up with many others, should we be surprised at this last bullet point?  Listen to what the study’s lead author says of this phenomenon.  “This finding has potential to drive dramatic advances in medicine, including the possibility that the direct sampling of interstitial fluid may become a powerful diagnostic tool.”  The truth is, we are already there, although the technology is not such that it can be accomplished quickly and inexpensively.  Until that day comes, blood will continue to be the diagnostic fluid of choice.

HOW WAS THIS “NEW” ORGAN DISCOVERED?

“This tissue system was originally filmed in vivo and described in a number of papers and books by French surgeon Dr Jean-Claude Guimberteau, described on YouTube by Gil Hedley as peri-fascial membranes, and written about by me in Anatomy Trains. 

This system can be dubbed a new organ system if you wish, but it is part of a continuous Biomechanical Auto-Regulatory System (which I’ve been talking about for a while) – we could call it that – that runs in a continuous mechanical linkage from the DNA through the nuclear membrane via the microtubules to the cellular membrane, out through the transmemiranous proteins to the glycocalyx (the first mucousy layer outside the cell) to this interstitium and on up to the more gross and dissectible fascial structures.” From an article that came out today after I first published this article (Interstitium: A Statement from Tom Myers)

Firstly, members of the Fascia Research Group in Ulm, have been talking about this phenomenon or something extremely similar for a very long time.   Honestly, this discovery sort of reminded me of the “discovery” of the PRIMO-VASCULAR SYSTEM a number of years ago  Secondly, since tissue slides are typically dried or looked at in vitro (not in a living body or natural living conditions), the tiny sacs of fluid that make up the Interstitium were never seen because they were always collapsed and empty. 

If not viewed in living conditions, the sacs that make up the Interstitium flatten out and appear as fissures or cracks.   After using new techniques to view these sacs in vivo (in life), they were seen for what they really are, and are now believed to contain over 15% of one’s total body mass, 20% of one’s total body volume — between 2.5 and 3 gallons of fluid — and are being touted not only as a new organ, but as the largest organ.

The sacs themselves are made up of tissues we’ve talked about on this site many a time, COLLAGEN, and ELASTIN — tissue types that create both strength and elasticity.  This allows the sacs to act as fluid reservoirs, as well as shock absorbers / cushions. 

What’s doubly cool, however, is that the study’s lead author, pathologist, professor, and stem cell researcher, Neil Theise, has gone on record to state his belief the tissue structures that make up the walls of the sacs actually generate electricity as they flex, elast, bend, and move, due to the pumping action of organs and muscles move (this “pumping” will occur on some level as long as you are alive, but will function much better if you aren’t sedentary).   In similar fashion to DR. LANGEVIN, Dr. Theise believes this helps provide an explanation for the reason that acupuncture works.

Where exactly is the Interstitium found?  It’s just underneath the mucosal layer in tissues such as FASCIA, SKIN, and according to a Tweet by Theise, “the submucosae of all visceral organs“. The study itself says this.  “We observed similar structures in numerous tissues that are subject to intermittent or rhythmic compression, including the submucosae of the entire gastrointestinal tract and urinary bladder, the dermis, the peri-bronchial and peri-arterial soft tissues, and fascia.” 

Oh, and if that isn’t enough for you, the interstitium’s fluid is also believed to be the source of LYMPH, as well as containing immune system cells that had never been seen before.  Listen as the authors summarize.

“We observed similar structures in numerous tissues that are subject to intermittent or rhythmic compression, including the submucosae of the entire gastrointestinal tract and urinary bladder, the dermis, the peri-bronchial and peri-arterial soft tissues, and fascia…  If there is communication between the gut lumen and the submucosal space, this raises the possibility that cell signaling (including hormonal or immunologic signals) could be regulated in a proximal-to-distal manner determined by the speed of peristalsis. Immunologic interactions in this interstitial space could also be important in inflammatory conditions… 

Our findings necessitate reconsideration of many of the normal functional activities of different organs and of disordered fluid dynamics in the setting of disease, including fibrosis and metastasis. A submucosa subjected to directional, peristaltic flow is not the previously envisaged wall of dense connective tissue, but a potential conduit for movement of injurious agents, pro-fibrogenic signaling molecules, and tumor cells.

This raises the possibility that direct sampling of the interstitial fluid could be a diagnostic tool. Finally, our study demonstrates the power of in vivo microscopy to generate fresh insights into the anatomy and physiology of normal and diseased tissues.”

I’ve already shown you that diseased tissue changes its fluid dynamics, increasing it’s pressure and tending to create both swelling / edema and FIBROSIS (the medical word for SCAR TISSUE).  You also know that fascia is an ORGAN OF MECHANORECEPTION & KINESTHETIC SENSE.  In fact, fascia expert, Dr. Robert Schleip, has not only said that fascia probably contains more sensory receptors than the eye (the organ long believed to be the heaviest-innervated), but has shown that vast numbers of these sensory receptors are found in the interstitial space (they are called — you guessed it — “Interstitial Receptors”). 

Summarizing Schleip’s work, the TENSEGRITY BLOG (Myofascial Mechanoreceptors) said this of Interstitial (interstitium’s) Mechanoreceptors.

“The Interstitial sisters. Type III and IV mechanoreceptors. The most abundant sensory receptors in the human body.  More numerous than the sum of the sensory receptors in the eyes, nose, mouth, ears and skin, including all Type I and Type II fascial mechanoreceptors. Yeah, they’re kinda important!  The interstitial receptors are found just about everywhere, including inside our bones! The highest concentration of these are in the periosteum, on the outer surface of bones.

They respond to rapid and sustained pressure changes. 10% are Type III, low threshold pressure units, covered in a thin myelin sheath. They respond to the lightest of feather touches. Type IV receptors are unmyelinated high threshold pressure units, making up the other 90%. Stimulating the Interstitials are known to create change in vasodilation and the autonomic functions, such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, salivation and perspiration.

We’re still trying to understand the full impact of these receptors in the body. Some are pain receptors and others are also thought to inform the sensations of structural positioning and movement. Acupuncture is thought to engage these receptors, snagging them in the subtle twisting of the needle.”

When you get down to brass tacks; because fascia (UNDER ITS MANY NAMES) is the tissue that creates the interstitial space, it’s important to know something about it if you want to help people with chronic dysfunctions, CHRONIC PAIN, or even chronic disease.  That’s right; thanks to research like this, there is a growing body of researchers who believe that disruptions in the body’s fascial system is the cause of all disease. 

That was not a misprint folks — that was all as in all.   Because much fascial dysfunction is not simply due to mechanical injury, but instead due to the effects of chronic inflammation, it would behoove you to see what it might take to diminish your body’s inflammatory load (HERE). 

If you found this post interesting, be sure to check out our other 160+ posts on fascia in our Fascia Super-Post (HERE), as well as our FACEBOOK PAGE.  In fact, if you are wanting to reach those you love and care about most with ultra-cool and pertinent health-related information, be sure to like, share or follow us there! 

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