A ductless, glandular portion of the lymphoid system, involved in development of the immune system of vertebrates.

an immune system organ in the upper chest where T-cells mature.

Essential to the maturation of the thymic lymphoid cells (T cells). Plays a role in immunologic competence.

a gland in the body that is involved with the development of the immune system; located in the upper torso area

a gland at the base of the neck concerned with the production of functional t-cells.

thymos = thyme; also soul, vital force; lymphocyte-producing organ in thoracic mediastinum; sweetbread (origin is obscure: possibly resembling the buds of the thyme herb; or close to the heart, the seat of the soul).

A lymphoid organ, the site of T cell formation.

A gland in the chest where T cells produced in the bone marrow mature into effective immune system components.

A bilateral lymphoid organ located in the anterior superior mediastinum.

lymphatic organ situated in the base of the neck.

( thy-mus) An endocrine gland in the neck region of mammals that is active in establishing the immune system; secretes several messengers, including thymosin, that stimulate T cells.

An immune system gland located at the base of the neck in young vertebrates; it tends to disappear or become nonfunctional in adults.

Lymphoid organ located in the chest that produces hormones (thymopoietin, thymosin) and that regulates the maturation process of specialized lymphocytes known as T cells.

An organ in the front of the chest under the sternum concerned with the production of functional T lymphocytes in infancy and childhood.

(THIGH-mus) ( listen) Small organ beneath the breastbone that functions in the development of the immune system

Organ present only in vertobrates which plays a major role in the development and mechanisms of the immune system.

An organ of the lymphatic system, located in the chest behind the sternum, and the site where T cells mature.

An organ in the upper chest to which T-lymphocytes go to develop fully. It reaches its maximum development during the early years of childhood and then undergoes involution (reduction of size).

gland located between the heart and larynx of the fetal pig; produces the hormone thymosin and is critical to early immunity

A small gland located in the top of the chest, behind the breastbone and between the lungs. The thymus plays a major part in the immune system.

The thymus gland is the primary organ involved in lymphocyte (T-cell) differentiation. It is also an endocrine organ that produces thymulin, a hormone also involved in lymphocyte differentiation.

a ductless glandular organ at the base of the neck that produces lymphocytes and aids in producing immunity; atrophies with age

Small gland located behind the breast bone and between the lungs that plays a major role in the immune system.

The gland responsible for the production of certain white cells known as T-lymphocytes that are important for immune function. The thymus is very sensitive to excess cortisol.

A small gland in the chest above the heart. The thymus influences the behavior of white blood cells and other elements of the body's immune system.

the lymphoid organ in which T lymphocytes are educated, mature and multiply.

A glandular organ that lies at the base of the neck/upper chest. It is where T-cells mature, and assist in cell mediated immunity.

gland in the neck that produces immune system cells.

important organ within the lymphatic system, which emerges at the end of the first month of embryonic development from a section of the branchial fissure

a two lobed gland located in the chest cavity near the heart. An important factor in the immune system; the source of thymic lymphoid cells, T-cells which are a large part of the body's defense against viruses, fungi and certain bacteria.

The lymphoid organ in which T-cells, mature and multiply. The thymus is located in front of the heart within the rib cage, and shrinks as we mature.

The immune system's master gland, located in the chest, that controls T-cell production and maturity and identifies what the immune system's targets should be. [See White Blood Cells] After young adulthood, the thymus gland shrinks in size and the immune system declines. According to some researchers, the shrinking and functional decline of the thymus can be somewhat prevented or even reversed with adequate dietary intake of vitamins A, C, E, the amino acid cysteine, and the minerals zinc and selenium. [Reference: Pearson and Shaw's book entitled Life Extension, page 82

THY-mis A lymphatic organ in the upper chest where T cells learn to distinguish foreign from self antigens. 728

(THI-muhs) gland A glandular lymphatic organ located superior to the heart that produces T lymphocytes during early childhood, and degenerates by adulthood.

Lymphoid organ in which T lymphocytes are generated. Tissue An aggregation of cells of one type into an organized whole.

A gland located in the upper chest that produces T cells, essential in the body's immune response.

A lymphoid organ situated in the center of the upper chest just behind the sternum (breastbone). It is in the thymus that lymphocytes mature, multiply, and become T cells . (That is why they are called T cells. The T is for thymus.) See the entire definition of Thymus

a lymphoid organ located in the chest behind the sternum. The thymus is a source of T-lymphocytes in children, but generally shrinks during adolescence. The thymus is the site of T-lymphocyte differentiation, where the cells learn to recognize antigens. The thymus produces some 30 hormones or thymic factors (e.g., thymodulin, thymopentin, thymostimulin) that are involved in the regulation of immune function.

The organ of the body that trains T cells to be part of the immune system.

a glandular structure of largely lymphoid tissue that functions in the development of the body's immune system, located in the upper chest or at the base of the neck.

Endocrine gland situated near the heart, which is involved in the immunization of the body from disease.

a ductless gland that is found under the breast bone. Doubles in size by puberty and shrinks thereafter. Functional tissue is replaced by fatty tissue. Involved with the early development of the immune system and the main production site for T-lymphocytes which migrate from bone marrow to mature in the thymus (white blood cells associated with anti-body production). Zinc dependent organ.

An organ in which lymphocytes mature and multiply. It lies behind the breastbone.

A lymphoid organ that is situated in the chest. It reaches maximal development at about puberty and then undergoes gradual involution.

A primary lymphoid organ, high in the chest, where T lymphocytes proliferate and mature.

adjective THYMIC): a lymphoid organ located in the chest behind the sternum. The thymus is a source of T-cell production in the fetus and the site of T-cell maturation and differentiation, where the cells learn to recognize antigens. The thymus produces some 30 hormones or thymic factors (e.g., thymodulin, thymopentin, thymostimulin) that are involved in the regulation of immune function.

An organ that is part of the lymphatic system, in which T lymphocytes grow and multiply. The thymus is in the chest behind the breastbone.

An organ of the developing immune system, active mainly in childhood.

A small gland under the top of the breast bone. It is part of the immune system.

the organ that generates T-lymphocytes found just above the heart

The central lymphoid organ which controls many aspects of immunologic activity.

the master gland of the immune system located behind the breastbone.

A small glandular organ serving as the site of T-cell differentiation that produces lymphocytes and aids in producing immunity.

Lymphoid organ required for immune development

A gland located at the base of the neck. T cells mature in the thymus, making it a critical part of a normally-functioning immune system.

an organ behind the breastbone that is part of the immune system. White blood cells called T-lymphocytes grow and multiply there.

A central lymphoid organ in which T cells develop. Located behind the breastbone in the upper chest (Janeway et al., 2005).

A mass of glandular tissue (lymphoid organ) found in the upper chest under the breastbone in humans. The thymus is essential to the development of the body's system of immunity beginning in fetal life (i.e. before birth). The thymus processes white blood cells (lymphocytes), which kill foreign cells and stimulate other immune cells to produce antibodies.

endocrine organ in the upper chest, becomes degenerate in adults

An endocrine gland located behind the breastbone near the throat. It is large in childhood and decreases in size with age. It is an important organ for the immune system, producing the T cells needed to fight invasive organisms.

A lymphoid organ in the upper chest cavity; site of T-lymphocyte differentiation and hormone secretion.

Organ of lymphatic system; site of T lymphocyte production. Large in the young and largely regresses before puberty.

Gland situated behind the sternum; it belongs to the lymphatic system and is part of the body's own defence system.

A ductless gland located behind the upper portion of the breastbone.

a small glandular organ that is situated behind the top of the sternum (breastbone), consisting mainly of lymphatic tissue and serving as the site of T cell differentiation. The thymus increases gradually in size and activity until puberty, becoming atrophic thereafter

In human anatomy, the thymus is an organ located in the upper anterior portion of the chest cavity. It is of central importance in the maturation of T cells.