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ID：xinji65
许多科普读物称小肠是最长的器官。但事实上，血管才是真正最长的。虽然中学生物课本未明确血管是器官，但阐明了器官定义：由两种或以上不同类型组织构成，行使特定功能，承担生物体内一定工作。
血管完全符合此定义。组织学上，其管壁由不同组织构成的同心层组成：内膜包含内皮细胞层及薄层结缔组织；中膜为中间的肌肉/弹性层，含平滑肌和弹性组织；外膜主要是外层纤维结缔组织。神经组织在血管中虽不占主导，但参与调节平滑肌与痛觉。
因此医学上，血管与胃、肠、膀胱、肾等具有较大内腔的结构同属管状器官。
所以，最长的器官并非小肠，而是血管。
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