THYMUS ::
ANATOMY ::
Thymus normally exists only upto puberty but rarely it persists It is situated on the trachea below the thyroid gland Structurally it is made up partly of endocrine areas and partly of lymphoid tissue characterised by presence of Hassal s corpuscles
It is subdivided into cortex and medulla The gland contains small lymphocyte like structure small granular cells and Hassal s corpuscles These Hassal s cells are typical of thymus They look like a transverse section of onion with concentrically arranged flat cells with hyaline in the centre
Functions :;
(1) Formation of lymphocytes
(2) Related to growth of sex glands and development of puberty Thymus involutes as puberty ensues
(3) A substance depressing muscular contraction is likely to be secreted by the gland
(4) It aids the deposition of mineral salts in the bone
Anterior pitutary thyroid and adrenal cortex contral the thymus functions to some extent Thymus gland atrophies at the time of pubery
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