Even in the 21st century, the human body continues to surprise scientists. In a discovery that has stunned the medical world, researchers have identified an entirely new organ; one that has been hiding in plain sight inside the human head.
The groundbreaking finding came in 2020 when a research team from the Netherlands Cancer Institute, while studying prostate cancer, accidentally stumbled upon what is now known as the tubarial salivary glands.
The revelation challenges the long-held belief that all major organs and glands in the human body had already been mapped.
The accidental discovery
The discovery occurred when scientists were conducting CT and PET scans on patients injected with a radioactive glucose tracer. This technique helps tumors “light up” during imaging, revealing active areas within the body.
But during one set of scans, researchers noticed something unexpected; two glowing spots located deep in the upper throat, just behind the nasal cavity. Initially puzzled, the team soon realized they had found a previously unknown pair of salivary glands hidden in the space where the nasal passage connects to the throat.
Dr. Wouter Vogel, a radiation oncologist at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, described the discovery as a complete surprise. “As far as we knew, the only salivary or mucous glands in the nasopharynx were microscopically small,” he said. “So imagine our shock when we found these larger, well-hidden glands.”
What the tubarial salivary glands do
Named after their location near the torus tubarius, the tubarial salivary glands play an essential role in keeping the upper throat moist. They help lubricate and protect the area behind the nose and mouth; a region that’s critical for swallowing and speech.
The glands had gone undetected for so long because they are small, deeply located, and difficult to access. It took highly sensitive imaging technology to finally reveal them.
Why the discovery matters
The finding could have important implications for cancer treatment, particularly for patients receiving radiotherapy in the head and neck region. Because doctors were unaware of the glands’ existence, they were never specifically protected during radiation therapy.
According to Dr. Vogel, even a “single misdirected zap” of radiation could permanently damage these delicate glands, potentially explaining why some cancer patients experience chronic dry mouth and difficulty swallowing after treatment.
Now that the glands have been identified, researchers are hopeful that future radiation techniques can be refined to avoid harming them; improving patients’ quality of life after therapy.
A new chapter in human anatomy
The discovery of the tubarial glands is a reminder that even in modern medicine, there are still mysteries within our own bodies waiting to be revealed. The next step, scientists say, is to confirm how widespread these glands are among different populations and to study how they function in detail.
For now, one thing is certain: our understanding of the human body just became a little more complicated, and a lot more fascinating!