The gland extends from as high as the lower border of the thyroid gland to the fourth costal cartilage downwards. The thymus is of a pinkish-grey color, soft, and lobulated on its surfaces. Embryologically it is derived from the third View Diagram Thymus Diagram Image
The thymus gland has an important role in immune function. One of its main secretions is the hormone thymosin. Thymosin stimulates the maturation of T cells, which are derivatives of the white blood cells that circulate our system. T cells View Diagram Functions Of The Thymus Gland Image
It wasn’t until the early 1960s that Australian immunologist Jacques Miller made an amazing discovery: The thymus is the place where T cells, the major effector cells of the immune system, are generated. This image of a mouse thymus shows View Diagram The Thymus Image
