Are our inside organs as different as our outside body structure?

They vary just as much – yes.

That’s one of the problems we had as students in my comparative physiology lab – the body that we dissected looked significantly different than the bodies that the other students had. The general form and function is the same, but there are definite differences in positioning, size, shape, color, etc.

Yeah, we’re all different, inside and out!!! That’s why some people have stuff like heart mummers and others don’t, etc.

cool thanks everyone!

Yep, that’s one of the things that makes taphonomy hard and makes identification easier.

Hey, I know this is an old question, but I have to disagree with most of the answers. Most people have very similar appearing organs. There might be subtle differences based on size and sex, but for the most part, a liver is a liver and a spleen is a spleen.

I don’t know too much about internal organs, but I can say that that is much less true for skeletal remains, shilolo. The variation with those is absurd. I just assumed that it was true for organs as well. Interesting!

Bones by nature are going to be much different. Shaquille O’Neal’s bone structure will be far different than mine. But, his organs, while somewhat bigger, will look very much the same. Rarely, people are born with bizarre things, like a horseshoe kidney, or situs inversus where the organs are reversed. Still, my brain and your brain are going to look pretty much the same, that is to say, well developed ;-)

I should add that I am referring to relatively “pristine” organs. Over time, as we age and do damage to our bodies, things do change. Drink too much alcohol and your liver will become cirrhotic and your heart will expand. Smoke and your lungs will be stiff and scarred. Have a lot of kidney infections and your kidneys will be scarred as well. Have strokes and your brain will shrink in size. Etc.

Hahahaha, interesting. Thank you for that information!
People’s lives don’t have a dramatic effect on all of their organs? (Smokers and lungs don’t count, I don’t think)
That’s incredibly interesting to think about. I mostly avoid the squishy bits and stick with skeletal remains (and some grave wax, obviously). I assume that muscles will say a lot l-

Hahahahahahahahaha! RIGHT as I was about to ask, you posted!

Like I said, great minds think alike…. :-)

;) I can’t decide if you’re flattering me or you. Hehehehe

Me….. I think?

Ack! A paradox!