In the human body there are a large number of glands that produce substances that are necessary for its normal life. One of them is the thymus gland. In adults, it reaches a weight of thirty grams. The thymus gland has other names, for example, the thymus. In general, it is considered the central organ of the formation of human immunity. The thymus gland in adults is located behind the sternum. It consists of the right and left lobes, which are interconnected by loose fiber. It should be noted that the thymus gland begins to form earlier and faster than other organs of our immune system. In addition, her weight in a newborn baby reaches thirteen grams. However, later the thymus is replaced by ninety percent fatty tissue. Most often, the period of active growth of the human body coincides with the activity of the thymus gland.
Thymus is involved in two types of the immune response of the human body. We are talking about the reactions of the humoral and cellular type. In the first case, the thymus gland in adults takes part in the production of antibodies, in the second - in the process of rejection of various kinds of transplants. As for the production of specific antibodies, B-lymphocytes are responsible for this, for T-lymphocytes rejection reactions of foreign tissue. And in fact, and in another case, these bodies are formed as a result of changes and transformations of bone marrow cells. The hormones that the thymus gland produces in adults and children turn the stem cell into thymocytes. They, in turn, enter the lymph nodes or spleen. As a result, thymocytes are transformed and become T-lymphocytes. According to most experts, stem cells turn into B-lymphocytes directly in the bone marrow itself.
In addition to the fact that the thymus is involved in the transformation of bone marrow cells, thymopoietin and thymosin, which are hormones that play a major role in the immune responses of our body, are constantly produced in this gland.
There are many violations of the functions of this body. There are also such children who have absolutely no thymus gland. Symptoms indicating a lack of functioning of the body are nothing more than a decrease in the resistance of the human body to any infectious diseases. Other features can also be included here. For example, respiratory disorders, muscle fatigue, eyelid severity, and the appearance of tumors. In addition, in a similar situation, violations occur directly in the immune system at the cellular level. In addition to all this, autoimmune diseases can develop , which are illnesses in which the body destroys its own cells, since the immune system is not able to recognize them and distinguish them from the virus and foreign cells, for example.
Violations of the functions of the thymus can be not only congenital, but also acquired in nature. Sometimes there is a lesion of the thymus gland, its tissues (radioactive rays). However, in most cases, the causes of violations of the functions of this body cannot be established.
If the thymus is enlarged, which is typical for newborn babies, we can talk about the presence of thymomenaly. To this often lead to any children's ailments, external factors. It is worth noting that this disease is considered genetic. Infection of the mother during pregnancy, nephropathy can affect its development. A specialist will easily determine an enlarged thymus gland in an infant according to some symptoms. For example, in a similar situation, tonsils, adenoids, swollen lymph nodes are most often observed. You can take an X-ray, in which an enlarged thymus will be immediately noticeable.
Functional disorders of the described organ are successfully treated today. Thymus removal is sometimes required. However, in addition to this, the doctor may prescribe special drugs. In any case, a sick person is most often isolated in order to reduce the risk of infection. If you notice that you become sick much more often, and the disease (infectious) lasts longer, contact your doctor. He will prescribe an examination and select the most suitable course of treatment.