Thymus
The thymus is a bilobed primary lymphatic organ that gets smaller with age, until it is largely replaced by adipose tissue in elderly people [1]. The thymus, apart from its role as a primary lymphatic organ, has some endocrine function due to 2 families of protein, thymosin and thymopoetin, which play a critical role in the immune system, they are thought to stimulate the maturation of T cells [2].
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Location
The thymus lies in the mediastinum, behind the sterum, above the heart. It lies between the lungs. It extends from the root of the neck to the pericardium.
Structure
the thymus is a soft bi-lobed lymphatic organ, enclosed in a connective tissue capsule. each lobe consists of a dense cellular cortex and a medulla. both cortex and medulla are enclosed in an epithelial framework different from other connective tissue frameworks seen in other lymphoid organs.
Function
The thymus serves as the final site for lymphocyte development before birth. (2)The thymus secretes hormones that enable T-lymphocytes mature into T-cells, so it plays an important role in the lymphatic system [3].
Reference
- ↑ Shier D., Butler J. and Lewis R. (2010); Hole's human anatomy and physiology; 12th edition; McGraw Hill; pg 512, 623
- ↑ Silverthorn D.U. (2010); Human Physiology An Integrated Approach;6th edition; Pearson; pg 819 Patton K.T., Thibodeau G.A. (2010); Anthony's Textbook of Anatomy and Physiology; 19th edition; mosby elsevier; 567-568, 714-715
- ↑ Shier D., Butler J. and Lewis R. (2010); Hole's human anatomy and physiology; 12th edition; McGraw Hill; pg 512, 623
