THE THYMUS

Marcela García Flórez

Paula Pérez Molina
Alejandro Rodríguez Marín
Angie Salazar Ferreira
 ¿WHAT IS IT?

The thymus is a specialized primary lymphoid

organ of the immune system

Within the thymus, T cells mature

 COMPOSITION AND LOCATION

Located
anatomically in
The thymus
the anterior
is composed
superior
of two
mediastinum, in
identical
front of the
lobes.
heart and behind
the sternum.
 STRUCTURE
The thymus is largest and most active during the
neonatal and pre-adolescent periods. By the early
teens, the thymus begins to atrophy and thymic
stroma is mostly replaced by adipose (fat) tissue.
Nevertheless, residual T lymphopoiesis continues
throughout adult life.
 FUNCTIONS

The thymus produces progenitor cells, which mature

into T-cells (thymus-derived cells). The body uses T-cells
help destroy infected or cancerous cells. T-cells created
by the thymus also help other organs in the immune
system grow properly.

T-cells
 CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

• It plays an important role in development and control both

the immune system and the endocrine system.
• help effectively protect the host from various infections.
¡THANKS!