How Conjoined Twins Abby and Brittany Hensel Defying Odds

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Conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel have shared a new video that describes how they “have defied the odds” and are thriving “despite their unique anatomy.”

Compiled by Hashem Al-Ghaili, a molecular biologist, and posted to the former TLC stars’ TikTok account under the title “New year, same us,” the video explains how their “anatomy is a remarkable blend of shared and individual organs and tissues.”

According to the video’s narrator, the dicephalic parapagus conjoined twins’ body consists of two heads, two spines merging at the coccyx, two brains and spinal cords, two hearts, one circulatory system, four lungs (two partially fused), two stomachs, two gallbladders, three kidneys, one liver, one small intestine, one large intestine, one pelvis, one bladder, one set of reproductive organs, two arms and two legs.

The narrator says that because each of the women have their own heart, each “pumps blood through the same system, meaning the actions of one can directly affect the other.”

But because the 34-year-old sisters have individual brains and spinal cords that function independently from each other, they must work together to coordinate movements for their respective sides of the body.

“Abby and Brittany each control the arm on their respective side: Abby manages the right arm while Brittany controls the left,” the narrator says, noting that “this division of control extends to their legs as well, with Abby controlling the right leg and Brittany controlling the left.”

“Despite this division, their movements are highly coordinated,” the narrator continues. “For activities requiring both arms, such as holding objects, typing on a keyboard or steering a car, they rely on constant cooperation and communication.”

The narrator points out that the twins are “able to perform these tasks smoothly thanks to the remarkable synchronization between their two brains and nervous systems.”

In 2012, the Hensels filmed one season of the TLC reality show Abby & Brittany. On the program, the twins welcomed viewers into their lives as they confronted everyday tasks.

When behind the wheel, the Hensels — who each had to pass a driver’s test to get a license — showed how Abby controls the gas and the brakes, while they both steer.

When it comes to mealtime, according to the video, each woman experiences hunger separate from the other, as their individual brains control their own stomachs. If one has a stomachache, she may not feel it, depending on where the pain is located, since Abby only has sensation in her right side and Brittany on the left side.

“Despite their unique anatomy, Abby and Brittany have defied the odds, living full active lives through cooperation and extraordinary coordination,” the narrator says in the video. “Their story remains a testament to the adaptability of the human body and the resilience of the human spirit.”

According to Science Direct, conjoined twinning occurs in as few as 1 out of 50,000 to 200,000 live births. Of those, approximately 60% of the cases result in stillbirth with another 35% of the twins die within hours.

Abby Hensel got married to registered nurse Josh Bowling in November 2021, People reported. Bowling is the father of an 8-year-old daughter, Isabella.

According to E! News, the sisters are currently elementary school teachers in Minnesota, where they grew up.