Thymus body

Thymus body
thymus hy"mus (th[imac]"m[u^]s), a. [NL., fr. Gr. qy`mos.] (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, the thymus gland. -- n. The thymus gland. [1913 Webster]

{Thymus gland}, or {Thymus body}, a ductless gland in the throat, or in the neighboring region, of nearly all vertebrates. In man and other mammals it is the throat, or neck, sweetbread, which lies in the upper part of the thorax and lower part of the throat. It is largest in fetal and early life, and disappears or becomes rudimentary in the adult. The thymus gland functions as the site of maturation of T-lymphocytes (T-cells), which confer cell-mediated immunity on the host organism; thus, removal or malfunciton of the thymus can lead to absence of cell-mediated immunity, and a consequent loss of resistance to infection. [1913 Webster +PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • thymus — hy mus (th[imac] m[u^]s), a. [NL., fr. Gr. qy mos.] (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, the thymus gland. n. The thymus gland. [1913 Webster] {Thymus gland}, or {Thymus body}, a ductless gland in the throat, or in the neighboring region,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thymus gland — thymus hy mus (th[imac] m[u^]s), a. [NL., fr. Gr. qy mos.] (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, the thymus gland. n. The thymus gland. [1913 Webster] {Thymus gland}, or {Thymus body}, a ductless gland in the throat, or in the neighboring… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • thymus — /thuy meuhs/, n., pl. thymuses, thymi / muy/. Anat. a ductless, butterfly shaped gland lying at the base of the neck, formed mostly of lymphatic tissue and aiding in the production of T cells of the immune system: after puberty, the lymphatic… …   Universalium

  • Thymus — Infobox Anatomy Name = PAGENAME Latin = GraySubject = 274 GrayPage = 1273 Caption = Thymus Caption2 = The thymus of a full term fetus, exposed in situ. Precursor = third branchial pouch System = Artery = derived from internal mammary artery,… …   Wikipedia

  • Thymus (anatomie) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Thymus. Les différentes glandes endocrines chez l homme 1 : épiphyse 2 : hypophyse 3 : thyroïde 4 : thymus 5 : surrénales 6 : pancréas 7 : ovaire 8 : testicule Le thymus e …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Thymus — An organ in which lymphocytes mature and multiply. It lies behind the breastbone. * * * [NA] A primary lymphoid organ, located in the superior mediastinum and lower part of the neck, that is necessary in early life for the normal development of… …   Medical dictionary

  • thymus — n. a bilobed organ in the root of the neck, above and in front of the heart. The thymus is enclosed in a capsule and divided internally by cross walls into many lobules, each full of T lymphocytes (white blood cells associated with antibody… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • body — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) I n. torso (See body); solid, mass; group, assemblage; substance, bulk; main part. See whole, party. II Physical structure Nouns 1. body, anatomy, torso; carcass, cadaver, corpse, remains (See …   English dictionary for students

  • thymus — /ˈθaɪməs / (say thuymuhs) noun a glandular body or ductless gland of uncertain function found in vertebrate animals, in humans lying in the thorax near the base of the neck and becoming vestigial in the adult. An animal thymus used as food is… …  

  • thymus — noun (plural thymuses; also thymi) Etymology: New Latin, from Greek thymos warty excrescence, thymus Date: 1578 a glandular structure of largely lymphoid tissue that functions especially in the development of the body s immune system, is present… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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