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The Thymus Gland

Courtney Wilkins & Emmy Coffey

+What is it?

Main organ of lymphatic system

Assist in growth and sexual development

Made of lymphoid tissue consisting of tightly packed white blood cells and fat.

2 lobes Each lobule has inner region called the medulla and outer

region called the cortex Cortex contains immature T-lymphocytes, not yet ready to

distinguish body cells and foreign cells Medulla contains mature cells

+Where is it?

Located immediately beneath the breast bone at the level of the heart

Made up of two lobes in front of the trachea

+Hormones this gland produces

Thymosin-causes T lymphocytes to mature and grow, increases immune responses, stimulates pituitary gland hormones 3 thymosins: alpha, beta, gamma

Thympoeitin & thymulin makes it possible to distinguish T-lymphocytes and enhances T-cell function

thymic humoral factor (THF) increases immune responses particularly to viruses

+Affect on human body

Transform lymphocytes (white blood cells that were made in the bone marrow) into T cells. T cells are sent off to different lymph glands, where they fight infections and disease

Mainly affects newborns/children Thymus gland begins as size of apple and begins to

decrease in size once puberty hits

+Maintaining Homeostasis

Thymus gland is necessary to fight infections. Without it, as a child you’d have immune deficiency.

Scientists are trying to determine if your thymus gland doesn’t shrink, would the human body fight HIV/AIDS, cancer etc. better.

Most of immune development occurs before birth, so removing the thymus gland, due to complications, may not cause problems for them.

+Feedback mechanisms and antagonistic hormones

Thymus is part of the immune system so it does not have many feedback mechanisms.

There are no antagonistic hormones.

Hormones that act to return body conditions to within acceptable limits from opposite extremes are called antagonistic hormones.

+What happens if the gland doesn’t function properly? How do you treat the problem?

You can have immune deficiency.

Dr Jacques Miller discovered that the thymus gland is very important for the defense against infections and disease. Removed the thymus glands from newborn mice and found

that they were more susceptible to infection/disease and in most cases died.

A couple ways to help treat a malfunctioning thymus are to get a transplant, have immune cell infusions, or simply treat the infections you get with prescribed antibiotics.

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http://www.ask.com/question/what-hormone-does-the-thymus-gland-produce

http://www.innerbody.com/image_endoov/lymp04-new.html#full-description

http://biology.about.com/od/anatomy/ss/thymus.htm

http://www.wehi.edu.au/about_us/achievements/professor_jacques_miller/