Abby and Brittany Hensel, the conjoined twins who gained fame on reality TV decades ago, have finally shared an inside look at how their bodies work as one.
Now 34 years old, the twins were born with a rare condition known as dicephalic parapagus, where two heads are attached to a single body. Despite sharing a body, each twin has her own brain, heart, and a number of other vital organs. Their two brains and nervous systems operate in harmony, allowing them to carry out daily tasks such as eating, writing, running, and even driving a car independently or in perfect unison.
In a video shared with their 300,000 TikTok followers, Abby and Brittany explained the complex structure of their conjoined bodies, leaving many fans in awe. They revealed that while they share a body, they have two distinct upper bodies, two brains, two spinal cords, and two hearts, all of which are part of a larger, coordinated system.
For example, the twins’ two hearts are connected to a shared circulatory system, including the same veins and arteries. This means that if one heart experiences problems, it could affect the circulation in the other, possibly causing the second heart to compensate, leading to additional strain.
Each twin controls the arm and leg on her respective side of the body, with Abby controlling the right side and Brittany managing the left. Although their movements are independent, they are highly coordinated due to the seamless communication between their separate brains and nervous systems.
In addition to two brains, the twins each have two lungs, two esophagi, two stomachs, and a shared liver and small intestine. Despite the physical differences, their body systems work together smoothly.
The twins, who are both teachers in Minnesota, first captured national attention when they appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996, when they were just six years old. Abby and Brittany are among the rarest conjoined twins, formed when a single fertilized egg fails to fully separate during development in the womb. Only one in every 40,000 sets of twins are born conjoined, and of those, only about one percent survive beyond their first year.
Growing up, the twins were able to play basketball and softball in school, and they even got their driver’s licenses at age 16. Abby controls the car pedals while Brittany operates the blinkers, with both of them steering.
Though they have separate brains, the twins’ nervous systems are connected through their shared spinal cord, allowing them to communicate and coordinate their movements. The video they posted explained how they cooperate to complete tasks that require both arms, such as holding objects or typing on a keyboard. Their remarkable synchronization makes these activities appear effortless.
Their two stomachs and esophagi function independently, which means each twin has a different appetite. The food they consume travels through each twin’s esophagus and enters their respective stomachs, where it is digested and absorbed by the shared intestines.
The twins also have one large, elongated liver to support both of their bodies’ needs. They share a set of reproductive organs but have three kidneys—one on Abby’s side and two on Brittany’s. This unique configuration ensures that their kidneys can efficiently filter waste from their blood despite their shared urinary system.
When the twins were babies, they had a third arm removed, and despite the challenges they face, they have lived remarkably normal lives. Abby explained in 2007 that they never wished to be separated because being together allowed them to live the lives they love—playing sports, running, and more.
In 2021, Abby married Joshua Bowling, a nurse and Army veteran, and the couple has discussed their desire to become mothers. Abby is also a stepmother to Joshua’s daughter, Isabella. Recently, Abby sparked pregnancy rumors after posting a video with “breaking news” headlines, the final one reading, “Married and baby on the way.” However, the twins have not confirmed any pregnancy news as of yet.
