Thymus gland location

The mediastinum consists of most parts of the chest that are not taken up by the lungs or the heart and its associated large blood vessels. It is an area that in healthy individuals is filled with fatty tissue, connective tissue, lymph node tissue, and an organ called the thymus. Regions of the Mediastinum and Common Conditions The mediastinum is generally considered to include More difficult thymic tumors that consist of frank carcinoma cells, and other thymic tumors that appear to invade surrounding structures on preoperative radiographic studies, are often best treated by administering preoperative chemotherapy or chemotherapy and radiation before surgical removal. These cases are discussed at our multidisciplinary Thoracic Tumor Board which consists of specialists from oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, and pathology in addition to thoracic surgeons. Here, the optimal treatment plan can be designed with the combined input from all the appropriate experts. These tumors require a preoperative needle biopsy or surgical biopsy to confirm the diagnosis before giving preoperative therapies. Surgery is then generally carried out if it is felt to be possible and there has been at least some shrinkage in response to the preoperative treatment. The most common surgical incision through which to remove a thymoma is a Staging of Thymoma There are several staging systems for thymoma, but the most widely used are the Masaoka system and the World Health Organization (WHO) syste...

[ "article:topic", "phagocytosis", "inflammation", "histamine", "macrophage", "perforin", "pattern recognition receptor (PRR)", "opsonization\'", "neutrophil", "monocyte", "mast cell", "interferons", "granzyme", "fas ligand", "early induced immune response", "cytokine", "complement", "chronic inflammation", "chemokine", "acute inflammation", "license:ccby", "showtoc:no", "source[1]-med-770", "source[2]-med-770", "program:oeri", "authorname:humananatomyoeri" ] \( \newcommand\) • • • • • • • • • • • • By the end of this section, you will be able to: • Describe the structure and function of the primary and secondary lymphatic organs • Describe the structure, function, and location of lymphoid tissues Lymphoid organs are distinct structures consisting of multiple tissue types. The category can be further subdivided into primary lymphoid organs, which support lymphocyte production and development, and secondary lymphoid organs, which support lymphocyte storage and function. Lymphoid tissues are concentrations of lymphocytes and other immune cells within other organs of the body. Primary Lymphoid Organs and Lymphocyte Development The differentiation and development of B and T cells is critical to the adaptive immune response. When the body is exposed to a new pathogen, lymphocytes of the adaptive immune response must "learn" the new antigen associated with the pathogen, mount an effective response to eradicate the pathogen, and "remember" the antigen in case the body is exposed ...

Overview Myasthenia gravis (my-us-THEE-nee-uh GRAY-vis) is characterized by weakness and rapid fatigue of any of the muscles under your voluntary control. It's caused by a breakdown in the normal communication between nerves and muscles. There's no cure for myasthenia gravis, but treatment can help relieve signs and symptoms, such as weakness of arm or leg muscles, double vision, drooping eyelids, and difficulties with speech, chewing, swallowing and breathing. Symptoms Muscle weakness caused by myasthenia gravis worsens as the affected muscle is used. Because symptoms usually improve with rest, muscle weakness can come and go. However, the symptoms tend to progress over time, usually reaching their worst within a few years after the onset of the disease. Although myasthenia gravis can affect any of the muscles that you control voluntarily, certain muscle groups are more commonly affected than others. Eye muscles In more than half of people who develop myasthenia gravis, their first signs and symptoms involve eye problems, such as: • Drooping of one or both eyelids (ptosis) • Double vision (diplopia), which may be horizontal or vertical, and improves or resolves when one eye is closed Face and throat muscles In about 15% of people with myasthenia gravis, the first symptoms involve face and throat muscles, which can: • Impair speaking. Your speech might sound soft or nasal, depending on which muscles have been affected. • Cause difficulty swallowing. You might choke easily,...

Dr. Usman Ahmad, thoracic surgeon discusses thymic tumors which often presents as symptoms of myasthenia gravis. What is myasthenia gravis? Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease, meaning that it affects the muscles and the nerves that control them. It is caused by a disorder in the immune system that causes the body to attack the area of the muscles where the nerves connect to them. The immune system is the body’s natural defense against disease. Normally, when bacteria or other foreign substances enter the body, the immune system produces molecules called antibodies that attack the bacteria. In people with myasthenia gravis, the immune system produces abnormal antibodies that prevent the muscles from receiving signals from the nerves that tell them when to relax or contract. This causes muscle weakness with symptoms that can include in double vision or blurred vision (eye muscle weakness), drooping eyelids (eyelid muscle weakness), difficulty with speaking and swallowing (throat muscle weakness) and weakness of the limbs. When the immune system acts against healthy tissue by mistake, it is called an autoimmune disorder, with “auto” meaning “self." So myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular autoimmune disease. Myasthenia gravis is most common in young women and older men, but people of any age or either sex can get it. What causes myasthenia gravis? Scientists do not completely understand what triggers the autoimmune reaction in myasthenia gravis, but they do know...

• Cortex: Nearest the organ’s wall, the cortex region contains developing T cell lymphocytes • Medulla: A region near the center of each lobule, the medulla holds fully developed T cells • Epithelioreticular cells: These cells create walls that divide the organ into a latticework of sections that hold developing and mature T cells • Blood vessels: The capsule and lobular walls contain blood vessels to supply oxygen to the organ’s tissues • Lymphatic vessels: Similar to blood vessels, lymphatic vessels carry lymphatic fluid through the body’s lymph system, including the thymus • Macrophages: These immune system cells destroy T cells that have not developed properly Anatomical Variations The shape of the thymus can vary widely in infants, sometimes stretching above the clavicle. Infants can be born with an enlarged thymus that puts pressure on the trachea (windpipe), heart, or other structures. It is not always recommended that the thymus be removed in these cases, as it can have a negative effect on immune system development. • T4 or CD4 cells: Alert other white blood cells to pathogens, so they can be destroyed • T8 or CD8 cells: Control the overall immune system response by suppressing the activities of other white blood cells • Killer T cells: This specific type of CD8 cell recognizes and destroys foreign cells, cancer cells, and those infected with a virus. • Encyclopaedia Britannica. • Remien K, Jan A. • U.S. National Cancer Institute. • U.S. National Cancer Institute....

The thymus is divided into two lobes, lying on either side of the midline of the body, and into smaller subdivisions called The organ is composed principally of two types of cells, called, respectively, The thymus differs structurally from other lymphoid organs in that it does not have lymphatic vessels draining into it. It is not a filter like the The functions of the thymus that have so far been observed relate chiefly to the newborn. Removal of the organ in the adult has little effect, but, when the thymus is removed in the newborn, T cells in the blood and lymphoid tissue are Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. It is known that most of the lymphocytes that are produced in the thymic cortex die without leaving the organ. Since those T cells that do leave the thymus are equipped to react against foreign antigens, it is assumed that the thymus destroys lymphocytes that would engage in an

The Greeks believed your thymus was home to your soul. In fact, thymus means “soul” in Greek. While no studies have proven that to be the case, your thymus does play an important role in your What Is the Thymus Gland? The thymus gland is a soft organ that is large in babies but begins to shrink after puberty. Once you reach adulthood, your thymus gland becomes relatively small. Your thymus is a fully developed organ in utero. It’s one of a few that curl in on themselves and become smaller and less active as you get older. Your thymus creates your T cells, or white Thymus gland location. Your thymus gland is between your ascending aorta and What Does the Thymus Gland Do? The main function of your thymus gland is to process and teach your T cells. Inside your thymus, these T cells don't react to bacteria or viruses. After these cells mature, they go into the blood and defend your lymphatic organs from disease. Your T cells go into your body and become the fighting force of your immune system. They do things like identifying and eliminating cancer cells and pathogens. Another essential function of your thymus gland is to produce the Other hormones your thymus gland makes include: • Thymopoietin • Thymulin • Thymic humoral factor The thymus functions as an area for diverse T cells to learn how to identify and eliminate foreign organisms in your body. Your thymus plays a significant role in keeping your Thymus vs. Thyroid Glands Your thyroid is an endocrine gland like the thymu...

Location and Size of the Thymus The thymus is a gland in the upper chest/lower neck area. The thymus tends to be confused with the thyroid—a gland that’s in the same general vicinity, but has a very different function. The thymus is a soft, pinkish-gray gland located behind your breastbone and between your lungs. Doctors call this area of the chest the In human beings, the thymus is not an organ that is generally visible or detectable from the outside. That is, a shadow from the thymus can sometimes be seen on x-rays; however, lumps or bulges in the neck region are much more likely to be due to other things, such as swollen lymph nodes or cysts. Very rarely, a part of the thymus is further up in the neck than it should be—something called ectopic cervical thymus. Depending on your age, chances are that you do have at least the remnants of a thymus, but in most cases, adults don’t really have an active thymus. After puberty, the thymus starts to slowly shrink, or atrophy, and it becomes replaced by fat. Not to worry, however, since it is generally accepted that the thymus produces all the T-cells you will ever need prior to this point. Although activity of the thymus seems to grind to a halt in adulthood with rare exceptions, T-lymphocytes continue to be generated in your body and are replenished throughout your lifetime. Individuals can vary greatly in the size and shape of their thymus. The thymus is relatively large when we are infants, weighing about 25 grams at birth. ...

By Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc. Reviewed by Both acute and chronic stress in many different forms can lead to a condition known as acute thymic atrophy, which can severely impact the health of the immune system. Thymus. Image Credit: Nerthuz/Shutterstock.com What is the thymus? Except for jawless fish, the thymus is found in all vertebrates. The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ located above the heart that plays a crucial role in the ability of the immune system to fight against pathogens, tumors, Thymus-independent immune system The thymus-independent components of the immune system are otherwise commonly referred to as the innate immune system. The innate immune system is the body’s first line of defense against pathogenic invasion, which is achieved through macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells (DCs), and granulocytes. These innate immune cells are activated by germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors, some of which include Toll-like receptors and nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors. Once activated by these receptors, the macrophages and neutrophils will eliminate antigens through phagocytosis. Comparatively, DCs and other innate immune cells will process antigens and eventually serve as antigen-presenting cells for the adaptive immune system. Thymus-dependent immune system The thymus-dependent immune system, which is otherwise known as adaptive immunity, is achieved through the actions of both T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes (T and B cells, r...