Endocrine organs are endocrine glands that do not have excretory ducts, the most important of which are the pineal gland, adrenal gland, pituitary gland, parathyroid glands, and also the genital and pancreas. In addition, there are glands that combine the formation of hormones with other non-endocrine functions, these include the hypothalamus, pancreas, ovaries, placenta and thymus. In addition to the endocrine system, other organs can also release hormones into the blood: salivary glands, paraurethral glands, kidneys, liver, stomach and intestines.
The thymus gland, also called goiter or thymus, is the main organ of immunogenesis. Its main task is to regulate the formation and functioning of the immune system. It is in it that the hematopoietic stem cells are transformed into T-lymphocytes.
The thymus gland is located behind the sternum in the upper part of the chest, above the vascular bundle of the heart. It consists of two asymmetric fused lobes, is covered with a thin connective tissue capsule and consists of brain and cortical substance. The shares of the thymus gland are different in size, there are cases when this gland had an intermediate share. The glandular tissue consists of multi-process epithelial reticulocytes, which form a three-dimensional network, with lymphocytes lying in the loops.
The laying of the thymus gland occurs in the second month of pregnancy, and at the time of birth, this gland has a maximum size in relation to the total surface area of the human body. As they grow older, this ratio decreases, and by age it almost completely atrophies, and all its functional tissue is replaced by adipose tissue. Numerous arteries, which originate from the internal thoracic and lower thyroid arteries, provide blood supply to the thymus gland. Its veins flow into the internal thoracic and brachiocephalic veins, innervation is carried out by branches of the sympathetic and vagus nerves.
The most reliable and informative diagnostic methods are immunological and cytological studies, as well as radiological methods.
In the event that the thymus gland has malformations, such as aplasia and hypoplasia, primary immunodeficiency phenomena occur , which are accompanied by signs of sharp suppression of the immune system, as well as recurrent inflammatory diseases of the intestines and respiratory tract. These phenomena are very often the cause of death of patients. Therefore, in the presence of recurrent inflammatory diseases of the intestines and respiratory tract in young infants, a study of the functional state of the thymus must be carried out in order to exclude an increase in the thymus gland in a child. Diagnosis of this increase is possible only with the help of x-ray examination. The main radiological sign of an enlarged thymus gland is the detection of a special symptom called a pillar-shaped or bizarre heart, when the shadow of an enlarged thymus gland merges with the shadow of the heart, creating a bizarre picture of the shadow.
The main symptoms of a thymus disease are: enlargement of most lymph nodes, tonsils, adenoids, thymus, developmental abnormalities (hip dislocation, syndactyly, hernia), hypotension, marbled skin, heart rhythm disturbance, hyperhidrosis, obesity.
Treatment of conditions caused by thymus dysfunction consists in its removal (thimectomy), diet therapy and corticosteroid therapy. If the existing thymus hyperplasia does not have clinical manifestations, active medical intervention is not required.