What is the thymus?
It is called the thymus. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a soft, lobed lymphoid organ.
What it is
- A soft, lobed lymphoid organ.
- Prominent in children and adolescents; shrinks after puberty.
- Where T-lymphocytes mature.
Where it is
- In the upper chest, behind the sternum.
- In front of the great vessels and the heart.
- Extends up into the lower neck in children.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
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