Oftentimes, even the best of the human race can be dumbfounded by how much we still don't know about our own bodies. In current scientific studies, discovery of a new layer in the cornea and a previously unknown ligament in the knee have been humbling reminders of how complex our anatomy is.

Despite thousands of years of in-depth investigation, there are still gaps in the current data as each individual is different and each component can change from person to person. The truth is that the actual living, breathing parts of an individual is a far cry from textbook illustrations.

The Dua's layer is a newfound tier in the human eye, a thin but tough structure which measures around 15 microns thick. Located at the back of the cornea, this transparent tissue at the very front of the human eye helps to focus incoming light and was found in June 2013. It is named after its discoverer, Harminder Dua, a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Nottingham.

Steven Claes, a knee surgeon from the University of Leuven, focused on the exterior composition of the knee to solve an old problem as to why many patients cannot return to their former level of competence in sports after a knee injury. It turned out there was a distinctive structure that was previously unnoticed by doctors such as the anterolateral ligament.

Dr. Claes explained that most doctors overlooked this crucial part of the knee as you can only identify what you know should be there. There is no advantage in memorizing all of the body parts when dealing with a component that is unheard of.

The problem also lies when medical students look at a human body upclose, they only see parts and not the whole. It's as if one is only looking at one corner of a painting and not the whole thing. It is imperative to understand and examine the body continuously in its entirety.

By recognizing the spaces that science has yet to fill, most scientists are excited about what we can learn about the human body in the next 50 years.