# Fastest Healing Human Tissue? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2002, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-healing-human-tissue/122647 "2002-08-06T17:59:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pete\_The\_Sequel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@Pete\_The\_Sequel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pete_The_Sequel)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-healing-human-tissue/122647/1 "2002-08-06T17:59:01Z")
I was told it was the liver tissue, by a body piercer, many years ago. (With the tounge being in second place.) I’d assumed since he was trained and certified to ram metal into people, he was right. I was recently asked to find a verifiable source for this information, and upon checking, found a number of different answers - including the eye, and even the colon. Does anyone know this one? If so, is there a quotable source for said information? Thanks! -Pete ---
**Author:** ![DrLiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DrLiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLiver)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-healing-human-tissue/122647/2 "2002-08-06T19:32:01Z")
FWIW y mother told me it’s the tongue…😃 and it’s true, when you bite your tongue it bother’s you for a few minutes and then it’s ok, even if you burn it very badly, it rarely hurts more than a few hours… I wouldn’t know anything about internal organs though…😕 ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-healing-human-tissue/122647/3 "2002-08-06T19:34:21Z")
i sure hope to god the liver heals quickly! anyway, i’ve always thought that mucuos membranes healed the quickest. especially the mouth part. jb ---
**Author:** ![Peach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@Peach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peach)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-healing-human-tissue/122647/4 "2002-08-06T20:52:51Z")
If the liver is the fastest healer than can you reverse damage done by alcohol & pills?? …just wondering.😕 :o ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-healing-human-tissue/122647/5 "2002-08-06T21:15:30Z")
IANAD but I would think it would be the tissue that propigates itself fastest under normal conditions, ie epithelial tissue. Specifically, things that are under constant abuse such the skin and digestive tract lining already undergo constant destruction/repair so I would think they heal the fastest. That’s what they are made to do. My WAG anyway. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-healing-human-tissue/122647/6 "2002-08-06T21:35:53Z")
I always thought it was the tissue that is the bloodiest. By that, I mean with the biggest blood supply. The tongue certainly fits that description. The problem with the liver is that it heals with SCAR TISSUE. And scar tissue is just cement. It’s fragile, and it doesn’t function like “regular” liver tissue. Wonder what WebMD says? ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-healing-human-tissue/122647/7 "2002-08-06T23:42:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pete (The Sequel) \* > **I was told it was the liver tissue, by a body piercer, many years ago. (With the tounge being in second place.) I’d assumed since he was trained and certified to ram metal into people, he was right.** I’m predicting that the Next Big Thing™ will be getting your liver pierced. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-healing-human-tissue/122647/8 "2002-08-07T00:41:19Z")
I’ve heard the eyes and the stomach lining are the fastest healing tissues. Can’t cite it though. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-healing-human-tissue/122647/9 "2002-08-07T01:55:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by VOW \* > **The problem with the liver is that it heals with SCAR TISSUE. And scar tissue is just cement. It’s fragile, and it doesn’t function like “regular” liver tissue.** To the contrary, the human liver is the only organ that is capable of regenerating itself after mild injury or short term disease. The regenerated tissue is not scar tissue, and functions as normal liver tissue. However, if the liver is afflicted with long term, chronic damage such as cancer, hepatitis or alcohol abuse, the ability to regenerate may be impaired resulting in cirrhosis (formation of non-functional scar-like tissue). [Liver Facts](http://www.sun.ac.za/anatpath/git/liver.html)