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A Note on Hassall’s Corpuscles

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Contemporary Topics in Immunobiology

Part of the book series: Contemporary Topics in Immunobiology ((CTI,volume 2))

Abstract

Hassall’s corpuscles were first described in the human thymus by the English microscopist Arthur Hill Hassall in 1846. The corpuscles, a distinctive feature of the medulla of the mammalian thymus, are rounded epithelial structures which vary in diameter from 30 μ to over 100 μ. They are composed of eosinophilic epithelial cells with pale, elongated nuclei. The cells are arranged concentrically, and the inner parts are often degenerate. Organized cell nuclei may disappear, leaving occasional chromatin granules; hyalinization and calcification are sometimes seen. Small cysts may develop which contain granulocytes and lymphocytes. The edge of each Hassall’s corpuscle appears to be in close contact with epithelial cells in the surrounding medulla.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pathologisch Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Louis Kater

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  1. Louis Kater
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Cancer Hospital, Chester Beatty Research Institute, London, England

    A. J. S. Davies  & R. L. Carter  & 

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© 1973 Plenum Press, New York

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Kater, L. (1973). A Note on Hassall’s Corpuscles. In: Davies, A.J.S., Carter, R.L. (eds) Contemporary Topics in Immunobiology. Contemporary Topics in Immunobiology, vol 2. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0919-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0919-2_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-0921-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-0919-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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