Omentum: ‘Policeman of Abdomen’ is an Important Organ to be studied

• The omentum is a large sheet of fat stretching protecting the stomach, intestines and the liver
• The research published in the Journal 'Trends in Immunology' highlights that the immune organ is actually a nursery for cancer cells
• Also called the 'Policeman of Abdomen', the omentum is central to our body's immune system

June 06, 2017:

What is the Omentum?

The omentum is like an apron shaped sheet of fat stretching from the liver, intestines to the stomach. White patches that are known as 'milky spots' cover the surface of the omentum. The milky spots gather information from cells, antigens, and bacteria in order to deduce what really is going on. Accordingly, the omentum decides what immune reaction is required by the abdomen. It fights against infections and toxins.

The Good Part:

The omentum is a doctor within your body. It takes reports of the status of your abdomen well-being and acts accordingly. Scientists believe that omentum may have answers on how to stop the rapid growth of aggressive tumors in the human body. The organ is now under scrutiny as most of the things about the omentum are still unknown.

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The Bad Part:

The omentum sometimes provides tolerance and not immunity to the tumor cells. Thus cancer cells are pushed towards the milky spots and they stick there. Cancer cells sometimes prompt a tolerant response from the omentum. Scientists fear that this fact of the omentum makes it a nursery for the breeding ground of more cancer cells. As the study says, omentum "sometimes makes wrong decisions".

– by Saksham Narula of NewsGram. Twitter: @Saksham2394