The Thymus Gland

1. The Thymus Gland Gage Krause 7b January 13, 2014

2. Location Upper chest underneath the breastbone Directly under the sternum Divided into two lobes– left and right– on the front of the trachea Shrinks as humans become older

3. Hormone Production Thymosin – changes lymphocytes into T-cells Thymopoietin – relatively unknown purpose Humoral Factor – creates B-cells Thymic Factor – divides the T-cells into different areas of identification

4. Importance Creates the immune system and helps prevent disease and infection Maintains homeostasis by keeping out foreign invaders Without the Thymus, humans would easily die from disease

5. Feedback Mechanisms The Thymus gland does not have any antagonistic hormones The Thymus gland has little to feedback mechanisms either because they do not exist or not enough is known about the gland. Early growth 1 stops cells from entering the Thymus in early childhood

6. Thymus Malfunction Lowered production of T-cells Higher susceptibility to disease and infection Increased chance to gain an autoimmune disorder such as HIV/AIDS, as well as cancer, and most commonly DiGeorge syndrome Can be treated by surgically removing the Thymus, a Thymus transplant, and chemotherapy

7. Works Cited www.innerbody.com/image_endoov/lymp04-new.html http://www.livestrong.com/article/185768-disorders-of-the-thymus-gland/ www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-thymus-gland.htm http://www.hormone.org/hormones-and-health/the-endocrine-system/endocrine-glands-and-types-of-hormones#Thymus http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/human-biology/immune-system6.htm http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/594569/thymus http://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-thymus