Abstract
The thymus is a lymphoepithelial organ, whose function was long obscure. It is now well established that it is one of the primary central lymphoid organs, the other being the red bone marrow, from which it receives T-lymphocyte precursors. The thymus gland, while providing thymus-processed T-lymphocytes to the entire body, also produces some special humoral secretions and may thus also be regarded as an endocrine organ. Though it undergoes a drastic diminution in size with age (vide infra), it is now well established that it remains active even into old age. Certain diseases significantly accelerate its physiological involution.
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© 2008 Springer-Verlag Italia
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Palumbo, C. (2008). Embryology and Anatomy of the Thymus Gland. In: Lavini, C., Moran, C.A., Morandi, U., Schoenhuber, R. (eds) Thymus Gland Pathology. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0828-1_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0828-1_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Milano
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Online ISBN: 978-88-470-0828-1
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