Thymus gland

Thymus gland

Thymus gland is partially an endocrine and partially a lymphoid organ. It is a bilobed structure located just above the heart and aorta, behind the sternum. It is covered by fibrous capsule and anatomically it is divisible into an outer cortex and an inner medulla.  

It secretes four hormones such as thymulin, thymosin, thymopoietin and thymic humoral factor (THF). The primary function of thymus is the production of immuno competent ‘T’ lymphocytes which provides cell mediated immunity.