Thymus

:This article discusses the thymus, a bodily organ. For the herb genus Thymus, see Thyme.

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In human anatomy, the thymus is a ductless gland located in the upper anterior portion of the chest cavity. It is most active during puberty, after which it shrinks in size and activity in most individuals and is replaced with fat. The thymus plays an important role in the development of the immune system in early life, and its cells form a part of the body's normal immune system.

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The thymus is also present in many other animals. When animal thymus tissue is sold in a butcher shop or at a meat counter, thymus is known as sweetbread.

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Human anatomy: Human anatomy or anthropotomy is a special field within anatomy. It studies organs and organ systems of the human body, leaving the study of tissues to histology and cells to cytology....

Gland: A gland is an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release such as hormones, often into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland)....

Anterior: REDIRECT anatomical terms of location#Anterior and posterior...