Thymuscoffeywilkins

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The Thymus Gland Courtney Wilkins & Emmy Coffey

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What is it? 

Main organ of lymphatic system

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Assist in growth and sexual development

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

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2 lobes 

Each lobule has inner region called the medulla and outer region called the cortex

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Cortex contains immature T-lymphocytes, not yet ready to distinguish body cells and foreign cells

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Medulla contains mature cells

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Where is it? 

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

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Made up of two lobes in front of the trachea

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Hormones this gland produces 

Thymosin-causes T lymphocytes to mature and grow, increases immune responses, stimulates pituitary gland hormones 

3 thymosins: alpha, beta, gamma

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

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

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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

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Mainly affects newborns/children 

Thymus gland begins as size of apple and begins to decrease in size once puberty hits

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Maintaining Homeostasis 

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

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

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

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Feedback mechanisms and antagonistic hormones 

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

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There are no antagonistic hormones.

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

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

You can have immune deficiency.

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Dr Jacques Miller discovered that the thymus gland is very important for the defense against infections and disease. 

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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-thethymus-gland-produce

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http://www.innerbody.com/image_endoov/lymp04new.html#full-description

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

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http://www.wehi.edu.au/about_us/achievements/professor_j acques_miller/