You Have an Organ in Your Body You Don't Know About

We should all be fairly familiar about our own bodies, right? Basic facts, such as which organs we have inside us, should be well taught and well known, right? Well, the experts generally list about 78 internal organs in the human body, although only about two dozen of them are major or are considered as one organ even though they actually encompass more than one. Most of them are obvious; some of them are minor glands. And let's face it, almost all of them are disgusting. Here are the most well known:

Adrenal Glands
Endocrine glands, located above the kidneys. They release hormones, such as Cortisol and Adrenaline.

Appendix
A pouch located on the right side of the body, near the junction of the Small Intestine and the Large Intestine. There is no known function of the Appendix, besides being the site for Appendicitis, which can kill you. My suggestion: Have it taken out -- you'll weigh a bit less without dieting, and you'll never have to worry about dying of Appendicitis.

Bladder
Elastic muscular organ located on the pelvic floor; it's exact location is based on whether you are a male or female. It collects urine from the Kidneys before it is excreted via urination. See what I mean about disgusting?

Brain
The center of the nervous system and the most complex of all human body internal organs (contains 15-33 billion neurons). It controls our sense of vision, hearing, taste, smell, balance, and feeling, including our feelings of disgust. It also controls the internal organs. It is the preferred meal of zombies.

Esophagus
Long muscular tube between the Pharynx and the Stomach. It is about 9-12 inches long. It brings food from the Mouth to the Stomach. It also returns some of that food from the Stomach to the Mouth when too much beer has been ingested, or when some of the internal organs are described in too much detail.

Gall Bladder
It helps digest fats and stores bile, which is produced in the Liver. It's about 3 inches long, and is located just beneath the  Liver. Since it can form painful gallstones, I say take it out; you can live a healthy life without it. Fun fact: Many animals (invertebrates, horses, rats, deer, etc.) do not have Gall Bladders.

Heart
Muscular organ that pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body through blood vessels. Note: Do NOT remove this organ.

Intestines
A segment of Alimentary Canal. They include the Large Intestine (Cecum and Colon) and the Small Intestine (Duodenum, Jejunum, and Ileum), and they extend from the Stomach to the Anus.

Kidney
Regulates electrolytes, maintains acid-base balance, regulates blood pressure, produces urine, etc. The Kidneys help excrete Urea and Ammonium from the body and reabsorb water, glucose, and amino acids. Produces the hormones Calcitriol, Renin, and Erythropoietin. You have two of them, so you can get rid of one of them. Note: While gallstones are produced in the Gall Bladder, kidney beans are NOT produced in the Kidney.

Liver
Detoxifies blood and produces biochemicals for digestion and protein synthesis. Fun fact: Some people actually chop up this organ, put it on a bagel, and then eat it!

Lungs
Carries out respiration. Inhales oxygen and transports it into the bloodstream, and releases and exhales carbon dioxide from the blood. You have two of these, but I recommend against getting rid of one of them, unless you plan to just sit a lot.

Pancreas
Gland organs of the Endocrine System and Digestive System. Produces hormones such as Insulin, Glucagon, and Somatostatin. Malfunctioning can lead to Diabetes.

Parathyroid Gland
Endocrine glands located in the neck, below the Thyroid Glands. They produce Parathyroid hormones and control the amount of calcium in the blood and within bones.

Pituitary Gland
Part of the Endocrine System. It is about the size of a pea and located at the base of the Brain. It secretes hormones for regulation of homeostasis and hormones that stimulate other glands for secretion of their own hormones.

Spleen
Part of the Immune System. Located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and recycles iron. It's about 4.3 inches long.

Stomach
Muscular, hollow bag in the Alimentary Canal. It's the primary organ of the Digestive System. It is located between the Esophagus and Small Intestine. It helps digest food through muscular contortions and secretion of  protein-digesting enzymes.

Thymus Gland
Specialized organ of the Immune System. Located in front of the Heart and behind the sternum.  It produces T-Lymphocytes that are important for an adaptive immune system.

Thyroid Gland
Largest endocrine gland. Located in the neck below the Adam's Apple (yes, women have one, too). The Hypothalamus and Pituitary Glands control the Thyroid Gland. It helps control the use of energy in the body, makes proteins, and controls the sensitivity of the body toward other hormones. The Thyroid Gland can be removed, but hormone replacement therapy would be needed, so you might as well keep it.

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Having these organs are based on whether you are male or female.

Ovaries
For females only: Located in the lateral wall of the pelvis, they produce ovum for reproduction. They come in pairs, so do not separate them.

Uterus
For females only: Also known as the Womb, it's the main part of the Female Reproductive System. It's where a fetus develops during its gestational period. It also provides support and structural integrity to the Bladder, bowel, and pelvic organs. It directs the blood flow to the pelvis and all the female parts there.

Prostate Gland
For males only: Part of the Male Reproductive System. Secretes a milky fluid that contains semen, spermatozoa, and seminal vesicle fluid. It also controls the flow of urine.

Testicles
For males only: Generative glands of the male body. Produce sperms and male sex hormones, such as Testosterone. They come in pairs, so you can get rid of one of them. However, doing so might lead to the generation of an embarrassing nickname in particular circumstances.

Ok, so that is a listing of all the major internal organs in the human body. Some people might refer to the Skin as an organ. I won't even discuss that, since there's something about the Skin that precludes it from being an internal organ. Do you know what I mean? Others might argue that the blood Circulatory System or the Nervous System are organs. Fine, if you want to count them, go ahead. My point is that there is another internal organ that almost all textbooks and experts ignore, and you have never heard of it.

Vomeronasal Organ (VNO)

The Vomeronasal Organ is also called the Jacobson's Organ, named after its discoverer, Ludvig Jacobson, in 1813. It is less than half an inch long, and is located at the base of the Nasal Cavity. In fact, VNOs apparently come in double pairs, one pair on each side of the Nasal Septum. In other words, it's inside your nose. So, what does it do? Does it excrete some disgusting goop from your nose?

No, it does not. The VNO is found in most animals, but not all. In non-Humans, it contains sensory neurons that detect certain chemical stimuli, most notably pheromones. Pheromones are used in many species for communication, particularly regarding reproduction (sex, that is) and social behavior.

In Humans, its presence is actually very controversial. It is widely accepted that the VNO is present in a new Human fetus. Of course, having the ability to detect pheromones at this stage isn't necessarily useful (and, really, who wants to have a sense of smell at that time?). However, as the fetus ages, the VNO seems to disappear. By the time of birth, the baby might have between one and four of the VNOs, although it apparently often has none. It is unclear whether a VNO found in a Human actually has any function, because it has no connection with the rest of the sensory system. Sometimes, there is only an empty pit where the VNO should be. Scientists seem a bit confused about this.

So, the next time someone asks you to name all the internal organs, be sure to mention the Vomeronasal Organ, adding "In your face!" And you would be correct. 
 

Vomeronasal Organ