Image: Wikimedia Commons

thymus

Endocrine gland

Entitygland type class of anatomical entityQ163987

Also known as thymus gland

Instance of: gland type
1
Sources
1.“This Tiny Organ Plays a Far More Profound Role in Human Longevity Than We Realized, Study Finds : ScienceAlert”sciencealert.com/this-organ-plays-a-far-more-profound-role-in-human-longevity-than-we-realized-study-findsRetrieved 2026-08-05
View statement on Wikidata ↗
, class of anatomical entity
Subclass of: lymphoid tissue
, corticomedullary organ
1
Sources
1.Stated in Foundational Model of AnatomyRetrieved 2019-08-01
View statement on Wikidata ↗
, particular anatomical entity
1
Sources
1.“Thymic health consequences in adults”
View statement on Wikidata ↗

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

The thymus is a specialized primary lymphoid organ of the immune system. Within the thymus, T cells mature. T cells are critical to the adaptive immune system, where the body adapts to specific foreign invaders. The thymus is located in the upper front part of the chest, in the anterior superior mediastinum, behind the sternum, and in front of the heart. It is made up of two lobes, each consisting of a central medulla and an outer cortex, surrounded by a capsule.

Overview

All data

55 statements · 27% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Lymphatic drainage: Tracheobronchial lymph nodes
Anatomical location: cavity of bony thorax
1
Sources
1.Stated in Anatomy & Physiology: Therapy Basics 4th Edition
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Development of anatomical structure: thymus development

On other databases

43 identifiers linking thymus across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

27%

externally sourced

Source last edited October 24, 2026. AIDb refreshes this page daily.

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AIDb. (2026). thymus (Q163987). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/thymus-Q163987