In the classic 1975 British comedy film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," King Arthur battles a mysterious Black Knight who refuses to let him pass. Arthur handily vanquishes his foe by cutting off his limbs one by one, all while the knight, reluctant to admit defeat, insists the damage is "only a flesh wound."
Dark humor aside, it raises the question of just how much of your body you could lose and still survive. Of the roughly 80 organs in the human body, only five are defined as vital organs that are crucial for sustaining life: the brain, which orchestrates bodily functions; the lungs and heart, which take in and distribute the oxygen cells need throughout the body; the liver, which has important roles in digestion and blood detoxification; and the kidneys, which filter waste and excess fluid from the body.
