Gone Once, Gone Forever: Body Parts That Cannot Be Replaced

The truth is, our body is made of flesh, physical matter that once buried on the ground, is going to disintegrate, just like any other meat. But during our life on this beautiful earth, we want to preserve our body for as long and as well as we can. We have been granted with a pair of feet and of arms, and more toes and fingers than what we need. With that said, should we lose one or two, we are still left with enough to perform the intended job.  But what about the body parts that only come in one copy? Even more interesting. What are the body parts that cannot (yet) be replaced?

Penis

The penis is one of the most important organs for a man. And even to emphasize on how important that organ is, some men would rather save their phallus than their hearts (yes, it is that deep!). The penis is part of the male reproductive tract (which is completed by the testes, the prostate, the seminal vesicles, the ejaculatory ducts and the vas deferens). Most importantly, the penis can be considered as a man’s pride, and this due to the cultural connotations that have been associated with that organ. What are the things that can cause someone to lose their penis? For starters, we have severe traumas (that can cause serious blood flow obstruction to the penis, resulting in necrosis, gangrene and requiring penectomy (amputation of the penis). A male suffering from any subtype of penile cancer could also require penectomy if the cancer has already spread. Penis transplant has previously been attempted (in 2006) by a team of Chinese surgeons, but because of the emotional dismay that this had caused to the recipient’s wife, the organ had to be removed. Nevertheless, the surgery was considered successful, and maybe someday – in a near future – scientists would find an efficient way to make this organ more available for those who would lose it.

Brain transplant

Brain transplants have always been considered impossible, only theorically conceivable.

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One of the setbacks to this scientific innovation is the fact that the nerve tissue does not heal completely, and because a “scarred” nerve tissue does not transmit impulses as efficiently as a healthy tissue, nervous integrity would not be maintained. However, in 1982, the chief of endocrinology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center (New York City), Dr. Dorothy T. Krieger, successfully completed a partial brain transplant in mice, and this was probably a stepping stone (no matter how small or big) in the world of medicine. Following that event, a team of surgeons from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (in 1982) attempted a partial brain transplant in a female patient who had suffered some neurological deficits secondary to a stroke, but the procedure was unsuccessful.

You Can't Grow Gallbladder In Laboratory

The gallbladder has 3 main functions: store bile, concentrate bile and then release bile. In that sense, the gallbladder is a very important organ (though minuscule) in digestion and fat metabolism. People who suffer from gallstones are at risk of conditions such as cholecystitis, cholangitis and gallbladder fibrosis; and these conditions are well known as indications for cholecystectomy (the medical term for bladder removal). Unfortunately, the gallbladder I just not one of those organs that you can grow in laboratories or extract from a dead donor for transplant. 

Stomach

The stomach is another important digestive organ. It is involved in the digestion of proteins and carbohydrates, and its acidic milieu prevents the overgrowth of unwanted bacteria. The reason why we don’t hear much about “stomach transplant” is because it is not one of the most vital organs in the body, and henceforth people can actually live normal lives without a stomach. Just like in the case of the gallbladder, this would require lifestyle changes and diet modifications. However, note that the transplant is not done not because it is impossible, but more because it is not necessary for survival.

Spleen

Spleen transplant is currently under studies. Should it be done, the indication would be in cases of immune intolerance (autoimmune diseases or hypersensitivieis), to make one less reactive to its own cells. Spleen transplant can also be recommended for induction of immune tolerance to other transplanted tissues (in other words, it would decrease the risks of transplant rejection).  All of this is simply explained by the fact that the spleen is an immunologically active organ.

Bone

Bone marrow transplant is very common and widely used, but “bone” transplant is not (not even conceived). Bones are highly vascularized structures that help to maintain and support the muscles of tbe body. However, bone transplant is not a procedure that is done. Nevertheless, there is something called “bone grafts” where the Doctor takes a “piece” (not the entire bone) of bone to replace the missing piece in the recipient, and this is commonly performed in medicine (particularly in orthopedics).

Read More: A Successful, World's-First Double Leg Transplant

Artificial Grown Organs

Have you ever heard of a “urinary bladder transplant”? You are right, and neither have we! You may be wondering why: this is because the urinary bladder is not one of those main organs that are required to sustain life. Similarly, when we talk about organ donation, the urinary bladder is not one of the ones in the list. However, one can require a new urinary bladder in case of bladder carcinoma or urinary incontinence secondary to loss of detrusor muscle function. In that case, an artificial urinary bladder can be used. The first ever in lab grown urinary bladder was done in 2000, in the USA.

In addition to artificial “bladders”, the word of medicine has also witnessed the creation of artificial heart valves, artificial corneas and so many other replacement organs. Henceforth, as we can see, the human brain and creative potential has no limit.