Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLocationAnatomyFunctionThymus ConditionsTests
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Location
Anatomy
Function
Thymus Conditions
Tests
Although the thymus is sometimes called a gland, it is not structured like one. It should not be confused with thethyroid gland, which is located in the neck.
This article explores the location of the thymus, its anatomy, its function, and disorders of the thymus.
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Thymus Location
Thymus Anatomy
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 to remove the thymus in these cases, as it can harm immune system development.
Function of the Thymus
The thymus’s primary purpose is to produce white blood cells calledT lymphocytes(T cells). These cells are called T cells because they are primarily produced in the thymus.
The thymus produces some T cells before birth and continues this process robustly from birth through adolescence, and at a slowed rate afterwards.
T cells come in several varieties that perform various roles in the immune response. The most common types of T cells and their roles are:
Understanding the Function of the Thymus
Can you live without a Thymus?Many adults who undergo thymus removal can live well without the gland. There is some evidence that the risk of cancer and autoimmune disease increases.Among children who have the thymus removed early in life, thymus removal might have a bigger impact on immune development; however, research is conflicting, and more research needs to be done.
Can you live without a Thymus?
Many adults who undergo thymus removal can live well without the gland. There is some evidence that the risk of cancer and autoimmune disease increases.Among children who have the thymus removed early in life, thymus removal might have a bigger impact on immune development; however, research is conflicting, and more research needs to be done.
Thymus Hormone Production
The thymus also produces specific hormones that benefit the immune system, including:
Conditions That Affect the Thymus
Thymoma and thymic cancer are rare. The risk of developing cancer of the thymus increases if a person has one of these other medical conditions:
Symptoms of Thymus Cancer
Although rare, thymus cancers occur in about 400 people each year.Symptoms of thymus cancer include:
Doctors may use imaging tests, including ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to evaluate the size of an infant’s thymus gland. The same tests may be used in conjunction with lab (blood) testing in suspected thymoma or thymic cancer.
When they suspect an autoimmune disorder, healthcare providers will likely order tests for specific autoantibodies, inflammatory markers, or other disease-specific indicators.
Summary
The thymus is a gland located behind the sternum that produces T cells, a component of the immune system, and hormones that allow the immune system cells to spring into action. Conditions affecting the thymus are rare, although two types of cancer can affect the thymus. Symptoms include shortness of breath, pain in the chest, muscle weakness, and cough. See a healthcare provider if you have any concerns about symptoms like these.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cavalcanti NV, Palmeira P, Jatene MB, de Barros Dorna M, Carneiro-Sampaio M.Early thymectomy is associated with long-term impairment of the immune system: a systematic review.Front Immunol. 2021;12:774780. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.774780Kooshesh KA, Foy BH, Sykes DB, Gustafsson K, Scadden DT.Health consequences of thymus removal in adults.N Engl J Med. 2023;389(5):406-417.10.1056/NEJMoa2302892Csaba G.The immunoendocrine thymus as a pacemaker of lifespan.Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica. 2016;63(2):139-158. doi:10.1556/030.63.2016.2.1American Cancer Society.Key statistics about thymus cancers.Minervini F, Kocher GJ.When to suspect a thymoma: clinical point of view.J Thorac Dis. 2020;12(12):7613-7618. doi:10.21037/jtd-2019-thym-05Additional ReadingZdrojewicz Z, Pachura E, Pachura P.The thymus: A forgotten, but very important organ.Adv Clin Exp Med. 2016;25(2):369–375. doi:10.17219/acem/58802
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cavalcanti NV, Palmeira P, Jatene MB, de Barros Dorna M, Carneiro-Sampaio M.Early thymectomy is associated with long-term impairment of the immune system: a systematic review.Front Immunol. 2021;12:774780. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.774780Kooshesh KA, Foy BH, Sykes DB, Gustafsson K, Scadden DT.Health consequences of thymus removal in adults.N Engl J Med. 2023;389(5):406-417.10.1056/NEJMoa2302892Csaba G.The immunoendocrine thymus as a pacemaker of lifespan.Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica. 2016;63(2):139-158. doi:10.1556/030.63.2016.2.1American Cancer Society.Key statistics about thymus cancers.Minervini F, Kocher GJ.When to suspect a thymoma: clinical point of view.J Thorac Dis. 2020;12(12):7613-7618. doi:10.21037/jtd-2019-thym-05Additional ReadingZdrojewicz Z, Pachura E, Pachura P.The thymus: A forgotten, but very important organ.Adv Clin Exp Med. 2016;25(2):369–375. doi:10.17219/acem/58802
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cavalcanti NV, Palmeira P, Jatene MB, de Barros Dorna M, Carneiro-Sampaio M.Early thymectomy is associated with long-term impairment of the immune system: a systematic review.Front Immunol. 2021;12:774780. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.774780Kooshesh KA, Foy BH, Sykes DB, Gustafsson K, Scadden DT.Health consequences of thymus removal in adults.N Engl J Med. 2023;389(5):406-417.10.1056/NEJMoa2302892Csaba G.The immunoendocrine thymus as a pacemaker of lifespan.Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica. 2016;63(2):139-158. doi:10.1556/030.63.2016.2.1American Cancer Society.Key statistics about thymus cancers.Minervini F, Kocher GJ.When to suspect a thymoma: clinical point of view.J Thorac Dis. 2020;12(12):7613-7618. doi:10.21037/jtd-2019-thym-05
Cavalcanti NV, Palmeira P, Jatene MB, de Barros Dorna M, Carneiro-Sampaio M.Early thymectomy is associated with long-term impairment of the immune system: a systematic review.Front Immunol. 2021;12:774780. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.774780
Kooshesh KA, Foy BH, Sykes DB, Gustafsson K, Scadden DT.Health consequences of thymus removal in adults.N Engl J Med. 2023;389(5):406-417.10.1056/NEJMoa2302892
Csaba G.The immunoendocrine thymus as a pacemaker of lifespan.Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica. 2016;63(2):139-158. doi:10.1556/030.63.2016.2.1
American Cancer Society.Key statistics about thymus cancers.
Minervini F, Kocher GJ.When to suspect a thymoma: clinical point of view.J Thorac Dis. 2020;12(12):7613-7618. doi:10.21037/jtd-2019-thym-05
Zdrojewicz Z, Pachura E, Pachura P.The thymus: A forgotten, but very important organ.Adv Clin Exp Med. 2016;25(2):369–375. doi:10.17219/acem/58802
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